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Steam Age Check Locks Out 65% of Adult Australians [2026] (tech-insider.org)
submitted 1 week ago by to c/australia@aussie.zone
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"Steam started blocking Australian users from viewing or buying 18+ rated games on September 9, 2026, unless they attach a valid credit card to their account. Valve’s rollout affects hundreds of mature-rated titles, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom Eternal, and it doesn’t matter whether the account is brand new or fifteen years old with a library full of paid-for adult games. Without a credit card on file, those store pages, search results, and even home-page recommendations simply disappear."

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[–] [S] 4 points 1 week ago (7 children)

One of the issues with cc verification is that it blocks people due to the need to meet certain criteria to get a credit card. Another issue is that this will 'force' people into getting credit cards, when they may not have ever considered doing so, and credit cards can be very dangerous (not just their sharp edges).

Last I looked there was also a lack of fee free credit credits available these days, at least from anyone 'decent' (not the big 4)

I agree re: the 3rd party bollocks, that is a guaranteed no for me.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 week ago* (1 child)

    I won't be getting a credit card. Hard no. Not ever. My bank knows exactly how old I am. I am ok with an over 18 boolean passing over the merchant transaction. I already have a three way relationship with valve and my bank.

    I don't even have a meta account and can't see local food menus, community events, kids sports or school info. It has taken over everything even the used market. If I can live with that then no way I am going to cave to some orwellian age verification bullshit just to play a game. I can live without.

    Gabe knows piracy is a service problem, not a pricing problem. Valve would be very aware that broken age verification damages their service and what the consequences will be. I am sure if they had a good legal alternative they would have gone with it.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 week ago (4 children)

    The commbank neo has no fee if you don't hold a balance month to month

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 week ago (3 children)

    commbank is evil though

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  • [–] 1 point 1 week ago (2 children)

    Pick your battles, boobies on steam or big bank bad

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  • [–] [S] -1 points 1 week ago

    I'm definitely not signing up to one of the big 4 banks so that I can game.

    Were I to go down that route I would get a paid credit card, and just see that $59 (or whatever) per year as part of the cost of gaming.

    The zombies who use the big 4 banks are the same people who keep voting for the duopoly, or the other right wing trash parties, the same people who got us into this fascist shitopia

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