"Financial Disagreement Leads to Steam-PayPal Separation; Valve Attributing the Decision to Monetary Matters"
In a recent development, gamers using Steam, the largest PC gaming platform, have encountered issues with purchases via PayPal. This problem stems from the sudden termination of payment processing for Steam transactions in certain currencies by one of PayPal's acquiring banks.
The affected currencies, which include most currencies outside the six supported ones (EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD, USD), have been impacted, affecting users in countries such as Poland, Brazil, Norway, Mexico, and Switzerland [1][5]. This decision by PayPal is linked to concerns about explicit content on Steam, connected to previous issues with Mastercard [2][4].
Valve, the company behind Steam, has confirmed that this withdrawal of support is related to content-related concerns similar to those that led Mastercard to restrict certain transactions. However, Valve has not provided a specific detailed explanation beyond stating it involves payment processors’ policies and acquiring banks ceasing transaction processing due to Steam’s content [2][4].
In response to this situation, Valve has encouraged affected users to use alternative payment methods or add funds through Steam Wallet codes. The company is also evaluating additional payment methods on Steam for the customers affected by this [6].
Despite the PayPal restrictions, gamers can still buy games on Steam as other payment methods such as credit/debit cards, Steam Wallet, bank transfers, and local payment methods are still available. Steam Wallet codes and gift cards can be used to add funds to a Steam account, providing a solution for many PC gamers [7].
It's worth noting that the new clause in the Steamworks Documentation onboarding documents adds a provision against adult only content [8]. However, the recent NSFW game censorship controversy on Steam is not believed to be related to the PayPal limitations [9].
The change in Steam's policy was confirmed as the cause of the recent censorship by SteamDB's social media account [10]. The updated Steam checkout page was flagged by a Reddit user early Tuesday morning [11].
There is no clear information about why this issue is affecting only Steam and not other PC gaming storefronts that accept PayPal. Some users have suggested that a "local payment" process might be on the way, as PayPal hasn't been available in certain regions for a long time [12].
Valve has not given a definite timeline for the restoration of PayPal support for other currencies, but they hope to offer PayPal as an option for these currencies in the future [1][2][3].
In summary, the PayPal restrictions on Steam affect a significant number of users globally, but alternative payment methods are available. Steam Wallet codes and gift cards can be a viable solution for many gamers while waiting for PayPal support to be restored.
- Microsoft's Edge browser, along with other gadgets and smartphones, can be used as alternative payment methods on Steam, offering a solution for some PC gamers.
- Amidst the ongoing issue with PayPal, Microsoft's Xbox platform, known for its gaming capabilities, remains unaffected.
- In the realm of technology, there's a growing discussion about the possibility of Microsoft's local payment method being introduced to address the PayPal void in certain regions.
- The gaming world continues to evolve as Steam updates its policies, moving towards a stance against adult-only content, a change echoed in the Microsoft Store's guidelines.
- The ongoing negotiations between Valve and PayPal regarding the reinstatement of support for non-supported currencies could potentially open doors for new collaborations in technology and gaming sectors, similar to the partnership between Microsoft and Valve in the Xbox Play Anywhere program.
