R18+, including titles like Cyberpunk 2077, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Resident Evil Requiem. Both Sony and Microsoft have implemented the check for Xbox and PlayStation gamers; however, with Valve now jumping on board with Steam, the whole process is causing a negative response from PC gamers in the country.
The reason is simple: Valve chose an age-verification method unlike other gaming platforms and services. Basically, if you want to access R18+ content, which includes opening a store page for a game, you're presented with the following message.
"Valve is required by the Age-Restricted Material App Distribution Services Code to verify that you are 18 or older before accessing mature content. If you wish to do so, please add a valid Australian credit card to your account and afterwards update the Mature Content Preferences. Add a credit card to this account."
Yes, the only way to access R18+ classified titles in Australia is if you have an Australian credit card tied to your account. We verified that a PayPal account isn't enough, since it can be linked to debit cards in Australia, which are available to people under 18. In fact, even with Cyberpunk 2077, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Resident Evil Requiem in our Steam libraries, we were blocked from accessing their store pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can Australians still launch R18+ games already in their Steam libraries without adding a credit card?
Are games like Cyberpunk 2077, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Resident Evil Requiem affected the same way on Steam Australia?
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The good news is the games still load, and for some reason you can still access each game's community and discussion pages, but that does mean purchasing an R18+ game is off the table until you add a valid credit card. With the backlash, it'll be interesting to see whether Valve responds to the feedback and moves toward a more open age-verification system like Sony and Microsoft.
