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 6 September 2026
Facts panel
Everything here is what the service, its vendor or a regulator has published, with the source and the date we read it. No adjectives.
- 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
- in-house or unnamed for credit card (Valve (in-house))
- Last verified
- 6 September 2026
Methods and retention, one row per method
| Method | Provider | Retention, as published | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit card | Valve (in-house) |
No published retention period found (checked 6 September 2026). Notes: Press quoting Valve: "Your UK Steam user account is considered age verified for as long as a valid credit card is stored on the account." |
gamedeveloper.com, dated 29 August 2025 Secondary source (press) · checked 6 September 2026 |
Every method row for this service rests on press reporting rather than the service's own page. The service's own wording has not been read yet; see the points still being verified.
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
- none recorded
Questions people ask about Steam
Does Steam require age verification in the UK?
For some content or features. As of 6 September 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 6 September 2026).
What if the Steam age check is not working?
This site records what the service publishes; it does not troubleshoot or offer workarounds. No official help page for the check is recorded for Steam. 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 6 September 2026.
Sources for this entry
- Game Developer press 29 August 2025
Changes to this record
- — seed: record created from research/01 and research/02 seed
Correct this entry
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