Steam won’t let Chinese users see adult-only games

Steam isn’t officially available in China, but it’s not officially blocked either

Reading Time:2 minutes

Steam’s China store allows users to see games that “contain some nudity or sexual content”, but “Adult Only Sexsual Content” is not included in content preferences. (Pictures: Steam)

Published: 7:10pm, 1 Oct 2018Updated: 8:40am, 20 Sep 2019

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Steam recently stopped censoring adult games. But that’s not true for Chinese users.

Three months ago the PC gaming platform announced that they wouldn’t censor any games (providing they’re not illegal or “straight-up trolling”), opening the door to adult-only content on Steam.

As part of that, they also gave people more control over what content they saw in the store. In account preferences, two more filters were added: A general Mature Content filter and an Adult Only filter, for games that “contain sexual content that is explicit or graphic that is intended for adults only.”

But China doesn’t have the latter option -- showing that they don’t have access to these games at all.

That’s backed up by a search for some of these games. For example, Negligee: Love Stories, which claims to be the first “100% uncensored” adult game on Steam, is not available for Chinese users.

Steam is widely used by Chinese PC gamers. It surged in popularity last year after the release of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x

Steam won’t let Chinese users see adult-only games

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Steam isn’t officially available in China, but it’s not officially blocked either

Steam isn’t officially available in China, but it’s not officially blocked either