As Valve explained in a Steam Support post, verification on Steam requires users to add a valid credit card to their account.
Just a few days ago we reported on Microsoft bringing age verification to Xbox (here). Now, Valve is following suit, as Steam users in the United Kingdom will also be required to verify their age to access mature content on the platform.
The change went into effect on August 29, 2025, in compliance with the UK Online Safety Act, which demands that online platforms implement « highly effective » age assurance measures. As Valve explained in a Steam Support post, verification on Steam requires users to add a valid credit card to their account. Once successful, the account is considered « age verified » as long as that card remains linked.
Acording to the Steam support page: « In the UK, Ofcom is the independent regulator for online safety.
