Steam reportedly adds age checks in Australia: card verification for R18+ pages

Steam seems to have changed its Australian store, and users in Australia are now reporting a new age check for some R18+ games that relies on card-based verification. That means some Australian users may now have to prove they’re 18 or older before they can even view or buy certain titles.

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If you’re in Australia, those user reports say the prompt can show up before you get that far, and it appears to ask for a valid Australian credit card. There doesn’t seem to be any obvious PayPal option, or an alternative using a passport or other government ID.

The timing lines up with Australia’s Age-Restricted Material App Distribution Services Code, along with the country’s broader online safety rules. Users also say the block kicks in at the store-page level, which means you may be shut out of trailers, screenshots, system requirements, reviews, DLC pages, and even games like Doom Eternal before you ever reach checkout.

If you regularly browse mature games on Steam, this is where the backlash is landing. Going by user reactions, the frustration isn’t just about age verification itself. It’s about how limited this version of it looks.

Critics point out that credit card ownership is lower among Australians aged 18 to 24, so adult players could still end up locked out. Some users say certain debit cards work, but the reports are inconsistent, and it’s still unclear whether Steam is checking for credit products specifically, treating some debit cards differently, or simply getting different results depending on the bank.

PlayStation, Xbox, and the Epic Games Store reportedly offer selfie or government ID checks too, while Valve still hasn’t clarified its approach or announced any extra options for Steam users in Australia.