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PayPalUpdate 29/08/25 - 16:59 UTC: since there's reports of it still working even with a Debit Card and not just a Credit Card (they're different in the UK), I've asked Valve if they have any comments on this. Since in the UK, even a preteen can get a Debit Card.
Valve recently put up a new support page, detailing the steps they've taken to comply with the UK Online Safety Act.
The UK Online Safety Act has a rather broad scope, and has been the cause of many changes not just for UK citizens but people worldwide as more and more websites realise they're in scope of the act and have to make changes. It covers all sorts of thing from porn to community forums and more. And yes, that even includes video games too (which many developers likely aren't even aware of). If a video game has user to user communication (voice / text chat) and it's available in the UK, the developer will need to comply with it.
The likes of Reddit, Bluesky, Discord, Xbox and more have already rolled out verification systems.
To comply with it, Valve will now be requiring users from the UK to have a valid credit card stored on their account. Valve will do a direct check (that costs £0 to users) using their own internal payment processing system "which is independently certified under the PCI-DSS standard".
If you don't do this you won't be able to access "Steam store pages for mature content games as well as their associated community hubs".
In the UK, you have to be at least 18 to have a credit card, so this way does make a lot of sense - as you'll already be age verified if you have a credit card in your name. Valve additionally say that "Having the credit card stored as a payment method acts as an additional deterrent against circumventing age verification by sharing a single Steam user account among multiple persons".
Valve feel this way "preserves the maximum degree of user privacy" as the data they will process during this is no different to simply making a purchase on Steam. It's also only required if you've specifically opted into seeing mature content on Steam.
Source: Valve
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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If a credit card is good enough, those should also do fine.
Last edited by emphy on 29 Aug 2025 at 4:10 pm UTC
Kimyrielle 2 hours ago
But geesh, remember when we used to look down on certain non-Western countries with intrusive mass-surveillance programs, and called them "unfree"?
Last edited by sonic2kk on 29 Aug 2025 at 3:05 pm UTC
Liam Dawe 
2 hours ago
Actually, if the check doesn't cost anything can't kids just steal their parent's credit card?
Last edited by GoEsr on 29 Aug 2025 at 4:31 pm UTC
Linux_Rocks 1 hour ago
sonic2kk: Heads up that a debit card also works fine, if you don't have a credit card. Although it bills you £1, rather than presumably £0 for a Credit Card. emoji
Confirmed. Debit card works here, too! Good news as I no longer have a credit card
What happens when you've got poor credit and no active credit cards? Like if you lose a job due to no fault of your own, can't pay your bills anymore, and that tanks your credit?
... or of you just don't want a credit card, like me.
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