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It's getting real scary that payment systems are now trying to censor content unilaterally. They pretty much killed CivitAI and are now fixing their sights on games. So what's next?
I'm not convinced they're done with Steam, or even videogames.
They could very well have a say in the content of GTA 6 for example. They could take down games like Cyberpunk and Baldur's Gate 3. The Witcher 3 has sex scenes and nudity.
And if US Republicans lean on these US based payment processors, they could take down more. Games created by or positively depicting LGBT people, people of color, or any references to DEI. They are already leaning on other private companies- T-Mobile is the most recent one in the headlines.
They are burning books, taking down websites, anything they can to censor the things they don't like.
Would be great for valve to start a payment system
I don't think they want to take on that legal liability.
Drip Card incoming!
They've actually been doing this behind the scenes for decades. It's insane now much power they have and how much they regulate.
I don't know why they can't just say "sorry visa are a bunch of prudes so you can't buy this game with that card". Rather than the entire site completely
Probably a contract clause somewhere that forces them to make that payment method equally available to other payment methods.
Would be good to have continuous reminders about what kind of assholes these payment processors are.
Not sure how viable is that, card payment is very monopolised system, and those few get a say on what to do.
Though i guess steam can bypass it by having people reload their steam wallet then buy using that.
Merchants need payment processors to make money, and losing one makes a big dent in the sales. I won't get a Mastercard because Visa isn't accepted anymore.
If they say that X processor is a dick and lose them, they are worst for it.
Man I'm not saying most of those games don't look like skeezy dreck, because they do, but a payment processor shouldn't be able to make the call about what a store can or can't sell.
Someone should come up with a way to exchange funds without requiring these corporate intermediaries.
Valve homebrew payment processor down the line? GNU Taler time?