Steam: age checks in the UK
Mature store pages and community hubs need a credit card on the account (debit not accepted) since 29 August 2025. In-house, PCI-DSS.
Age check for some content or features Gaming Valve Corporation verified 18 October 2026
Facts panel
Published statements are shown with their sources and the dates we checked them. Missing information and availability limits remain explicit.
- Domain
- store.steampowered.com
- Age check
- Age check for some content or features, first recorded 29 August 2025
- Triggered by
- adult or mature content
- Applies to
- all UK users
- Methods
- Credit card
- Vendor
- Other recorded providers for credit card (Valve (in-house))
- Overall record checked
- 18 October 2026. Individual methods may have later checks, shown below.
Methods and retention, one row per method
| Method | Provider | Retention, as published | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit card | Valve (in-house) |
No published retention period found (checked 18 October 2026). Notes: Valve’s own support page: “Your UK Steam user account is considered age verified for as long as a valid credit card is stored on the account.”, “Unfortunately, debit cards do not qualify for age assurance purposes as these can be issued to minors.” and “Valve handles the verification process using its own internal payment processing system, which is independently certified under the PCI-DSS standard.” For some cards a £1 authorisation shows that Steam does not collect. The page publishes no retention period; the card stays stored on the account as a payment method. |
help.steampowered.com Primary source · checked 18 October 2026 |
What you will see
- What happens
- Mature store pages are hidden unless a credit card is stored on the account.
- How long it takes
- Not stated by the service.
- If you decline
- Mature pages stay hidden.
- Official help page
- help.steampowered.com
Questions people ask about Steam
Does Steam require age verification in the UK?
For some content or features. As of 18 October 2026, Steam asks UK users to complete an age check for adult or mature content, applying to all UK users. First recorded 29 August 2025.
Is the Steam age check a face scan?
No. The recorded method is Credit card. Provider named: Valve (in-house).
What does Steam keep after the age check?
Credit card via Valve (in-house): No published retention period found (checked 18 October 2026).
What if the Steam age check is not working?
This site records what the service publishes; it does not troubleshoot or offer workarounds. Steam's own help page is https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/292B-3DA3-CFC8-97F6. If you do not complete the check, the service states: Mature pages stay hidden.
Regulator actions
No Ofcom or ICO action naming this service is recorded as of 18 October 2026.
Sources for this entry
- Steam Support: Age Assurance under the UK Online Safety Act service help
- Game Developer press 29 August 2025
Changes to this record
- — methods, sources, open_questions: Valve’s own support page read 18 October 2026; row upgraded to primary with Valve’s wording on credit cards, debit cards and PCI-DSS. No retention period published. (was: Credit-card row secondary (Game Developer, 29 August 2025)) manual
- — seed: record created from research/01 and research/02 seed
Correct this entry
If Steam's own page says something different, that page wins and we want to know. Send a correction with the URL. Corrections are answered within a week and logged above with their source. Nothing you send is published.