Steam now requires Australian gamers to verify their age with something most

We’re sure that many folks are going to be just shocked to learn that a massive company has handled age verification badly, but even so, we feel it is worth reporting that Valve’s attempt to comply with Australia’s Online Safety Act has been done in the most ham-handed way possible, as users in the country are required to have a credit card to prove they’re over 18 years of age if they want to see and buy games that are rated R 18+.

Many Aussie Steam users are raising multiple complaints about this new requirement, pointing out how this restriction is in place despite how long gamers have been on the platform or that many of them don’t own credit cards — a fact that is backed up by data that says about half of Australian adults don’t use credit cards, while still others point out that they can’t get a credit card because they’re on a disability program.

Some users are claiming that certain debit cards are being accepted, but those appear to be ones associated with the country’s four largest banks while other debit cards aren’t clearing the age gate, yet others claim that a one-use card was accepted as well. All in all, this appears to be some extremely slipshod compliance of a polarizing country law.

sources: Reddit (1, 2, 3, 4) and OzBargain via Aftermath and GamesRadar