News Steam games no longer purchasable with PayPal in most countries — Valve offers no timeline for a potential fix

[Admin]

Millions of Steam users worldwide can no longer use PayPal for purchases in most currencies, leaving affected regions to rely on alternative methods or Steam Wallet codes. Valve cites a bank decision behind the disruption but gives no clear timeline for restoring support, impacting global gamers.

Steam games no longer purchasable with PayPal in most countries — Valve offers no timeline for a potential fix : Read more

 

[punkncat]

Where my own interest in gaming is waning alongside my eyesight and hearing, I can say that I have appreciated Steam over the years as what they sell typically works properly for a variety of platforms. If PayPal goes away as a supported payment option that will, for sure, seal the deal for me. I guess in this I can count myself lucky as I would imagine $ would be among (if not) the last to go.

 

[bigdragon]

I also initially thought that PayPal's move was related to the censorship of adult content on Steam and Itch. The payment processors keep insisting that they facilitate legal transactions while trying to block anything that makes them feel uncomfortable behind the scenes.

The whole censorship thing has gotten to ridiculously disgusting levels now. A pair of friends of mine have games on Itch that got delisted as part of the censorship -- and both games don't feature adult content! When did excessively-muscled characters in an FPS or overweight animal characters in a fighting game become adult content? Game of Thrones has actual human pornographic material in it which doesn't bother the payment processors, but clothed characters that aren't shaped like "average" people are unacceptable now.

I'd assume PayPal being blocked in many currencies is probably due to fluctuations in international trade and currency valuations. Probably some tariff confusion and sanctions involvement too. Holding smaller currencies can open banks to wide volatility their investors don't want. They really should come out and say this bluntly.

 

[vanadiel007]

What is the name of the Bank? I bet once you put them on the spot they will change their mind quickly.

 

[atomicWAR]

I also initially thought that PayPal's move was related to the censorship of adult content on Steam and Itch. The payment processors keep insisting that they facilitate legal transactions while trying to block anything that makes them feel uncomfortable behind the scenes.

The whole censorship thing has gotten to ridiculously disgusting levels now. A pair of friends of mine have games on Itch that got delisted as part of the censorship -- and both games don't feature adult content! When did excessively-muscled characters in an FPS or overweight animal characters in a fighting game become adult content? Game of Thrones has actual human pornographic material in it which doesn't bother the payment processors, but clothed characters that aren't shaped like "average" people are unacceptable now.

I'd assume PayPal being blocked in many currencies is probably due to fluctuations in international trade and currency valuations. Probably some tariff confusion and sanctions involvement too. Holding smaller currencies can open banks to wide volatility their investors don't want. They really should come out and say this bluntly.

I mean that be nice but the timing is awfully convenient. Not sure I trust it. Regardless not a fan of the payment processors deciding who I can do business with, assuming it's legal. If these moves keep taking place, I could see this push companies and consumers to different platforms for payment. I know I'd switch atp...

 

[JamesJones44]

As someone who actively works hard to keep my CC information in as few of places as possible, this will likely reduce my usage of Steam given I don't want to produce a virtual CC number for every single purchase.

 

[bigdragon]

I mean that be nice but the timing is awfully convenient. Not sure I trust it. Regardless not a fan of the payment processors deciding who I can do business with, assuming it's legal. If these moves keep taking place, I could see this push companies and consumers to different platforms for payment. I know I'd switch atp...

I've seen articles and social media posts within the past 15 minutes saying Valve has now clarified that the PayPal currency removal is absolutely tied to the content censorship going on. This is absolutely out of control now. We really need updated laws all around the world that force payment processors to facilitate all legal transactions regardless of whether or not they offend or upset someone.

I hope the article gets updated soon.

 

[John Nemesh]

Well, at least now we know that the PayPal issue isn't a censorship issue...just one more "beautiful" result of the current incompetent administration.

Edit: After reading the comment directly above mine, I am saddened to hear that it IS censorship! If anyone could link to the relevant comments from Valve, that would be great.

 

[Notton]

related:

TLDW (or you're blocked because YT AI thinks you're under 18): Mastercard user agreement says they can deny anything just because they feel like it.

 

[abufrejoval]

With that rather large list of currencies still supported, I am wondering just how many are really affected.

Because AFAIK most of the world's biggest gamer populations in Asia and Africa don't actually use Steam to buy games in the first place... if they buy them at all: game purchase is basically a Western world relic, most gaming revenue is in-game transactions on mobile platforms.

 

[TerryLaze]

Mastercard user agreement says they can deny anything just because they feel like it.

I would be shocked if this clause isn't in the terms of every card and also every gaming platform and also every everything.
"we reserve the right to deny service" is like the most common thing.

 

[usertests]

The payment evil runs very deep. You don't even know the names of all your enemies.

 

[bigdragon]

Edit: After reading the comment directly above mine, I am saddened to hear that it IS censorship! If anyone could link to the relevant comments from Valve, that would be great.

Looks like they're in the following article: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/va...ently-an-option-in-a-whole-bunch-of-countries

 

[John Nemesh]

Looks like they're in the following article: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/va...ently-an-option-in-a-whole-bunch-of-countries

Thanks, I found more info on YouTube last night after I got home...simply disgusting how these bastards are censoring content and blacklisting Valve and other companies. I SINCERELY hope they get what's coming to them...