"Steam is a monopoly with very few precedents," says dev of game inexplicably flagged as adult-only by Valve

The creator of the open-world game Future? No Thanks! has criticized Valve's moderation and content rating process, describing Steam as a "monopoly with very few precedents." According to reports from Aftermath, developer Pedercini stated that he is "completely at their whim" due to opaque rules governing the PC gaming marketplace.

Future? No Thanks! is an open-world title centered around exploring an "ecosocialist eutopia" as an elderly protagonist scheduled for euthanasia. While containing mature themes and brief nudity, Pedercini maintains that the project is not pornographic and features no on-screen intercourse. Despite removing nudity by adding clothes to characters, the game was rejected on the grounds that it contained explicit sexual content intended for adults only. Pedercini reported that Valve refused to specify reasons or point directly to the problematic content.

The developer's experience highlights broader discussions regarding content approval on Steam. While Valve has faced criticism for arbitrarily blocking games with mature or sexual elements, other industry figures have debated whether Steam constitutes a true monopoly. Last year, games analyst Mat Piscatella argued that market dominance alone does not make Steam a monopoly, defining a true monopoly as a single seller with no substitutes and the ability to charge excessive rates. Conversely, executives and legal challenges have scrutinized Valve's market position, including a US class action lawsuit and a UK case accusing Valve of abusing its industry standing. Valve co-founder Gabe Newell defended the platform in court depositions, asserting that players have enormous choice and that Valve does not dictate third-party prices.