Key Points
- PayPal has been disabled as a payment option on Steam in many regions.
- The block was caused by one of PayPal’s banking partners, which suddenly stopped processing Steam transactions.
- The issue is related to “content on Steam,” likely sexually explicit games.
- This is similar to a recent incident where Mastercard forced Steam to remove certain games.
If you’ve been having trouble using PayPal on Steam, the problem isn’t with Valve or PayPal, but with one of PayPal’s banking partners. The bank has abruptly stopped processing Steam transactions in certain currencies, forcing Valve to disable PayPal as a payment option for many users.
The issue, which started back in July, is tied to the ongoing battle over adult content on the gaming platform. Valve explained that the bank’s decision was made “regarding content on Steam,” a problem similar to the one the company recently had with Mastercard.
In that case, Mastercard, reportedly pressured by conservative activists, threatened to cut off its services unless Steam removed certain sexually explicit games.
It seems a similar situation is playing out here. Still, this time, the pressure is coming from a bank that processes payments for PayPal. The block affects all Steam purchases made with PayPal in currencies other than the Euro, Canadian dollar, British pound, Japanese yen, Australian dollar, and U.S. dollar.
This is a big headache for both Steam and its customers in the affected regions. Valve says it wants to bring PayPal back as a payment option for everyone, but the “timeline is uncertain” because the decision is out of its hands.
The incident highlights the growing power that banks and payment processors have to influence what content is allowed on major online platforms like Steam.
