The long-running tension between Valve and adult game developers appears to have reached a new chapter. Reports suggest that Steam has quietly stopped allowing adult-themed titles to launch under its Early Access program—a model that lets studios release unfinished games to gather feedback and generate funding during development.
Early Access has been crucial for many independent developers. Games like Hades 2 are prime examples of how this model can support production and help creators refine their projects before a full release. But for adult games, that pathway may now be closed.
Growing Pressure on Valve
Steam’s stricter stance comes amid mounting criticism from advocacy groups. In recent months, Valve has faced pressure from the Australian anti-pornography organization Collective Shout, which accused platforms and payment processors—including Mastercard, PayPal, and Valve—of “profiting from rape games, incest, and child abuse” hosted on Steam.
This climate of scrutiny has already impacted several developers.
The Case of Heavy Hearts
One of the most recent examples is the adult game Heavy Hearts. Its developer revealed in an interview with Gamesmarkt that the game was rejected by Valve when submitted for Early Access. The reason given: Steam “cannot support the early access development model for an adult-themed game.”
The studio was told it could reapply only once the game was fully completed. This came as a shock since, according to the developer, Heavy Hearts was already about 70% finished—meeting the general guideline that Early Access projects should be at least 65% complete before release.
Without an official announcement from Valve, the situation has left developers uncertain about the rules and unsure of what exactly qualifies as an “adult theme” under the new approach.
Itch.io Follows a Similar Path
Valve isn’t the only platform tightening its policies. Indie-focused store Itch.io has also restricted adult content, recently deindexing all mature titles. While free adult games remain accessible, paid adult-themed projects like Heavy Hearts are no longer openly listed. The platform has stated it is working to balance the concerns of developers with those of payment processors.
The lack of transparency from Valve has frustrated many adult game developers. With no official communication about changes to Early Access rules, creators are left to speculate—and in some cases, scramble to adjust release strategies.
For studios that rely on community funding and iterative development, losing Early Access as an option could be a significant setback.
As of now, Valve has not issued a formal statement clarifying whether this is a temporary measure, a permanent policy shift, or a case-by-case decision. Until then, uncertainty looms over the future of adult-themed titles on Steam.
