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Köterich 27 Jul @ 11:52am
Why Is Valve Complying with Russian State Censorship?
This doesn’t get talked about enough, but it really should.

According to The Moscow Times and PC Gamer, Valve has complied with over 260 takedown requests from Roskomnadzor, the Russian state censorship agency. These requests have resulted in the removal or restriction of content from the Russian version of Steam, including games and user reviews containing LGBTQ+ themes, political criticism, or anti-war messages.

Let that sink in. While developers around the world face bans, demonetisation, or backlash for the slightest controversy, Russian games remain freely available to everyone globally, even as Valve quietly censors content within Russia to appease a regime known for suppressing free speech.

This isn’t about protecting users or localising content. It’s about enabling state censorship to maintain market access, while the rest of us fund it through full-priced purchases. Valve has taken a public stand on issues in the past, but in this case, it seems profit outweighs principle.

If you’re a developer or gamer who believes in creative freedom, maybe ask yourself why we’re still pretending that this is acceptable.
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Showing 1-15 of 49 comments
BlackCobra_fst 27 Jul @ 11:55am 
Originally posted by Zeno:
This doesn’t get talked about enough, but it really should.

According to The Moscow Times and PC Gamer, Valve has complied with over 260 takedown requests from Roskomnadzor, the Russian state censorship agency. These requests have resulted in the removal or restriction of content from the Russian version of Steam, including games and user reviews containing LGBTQ+ themes, political criticism, or anti-war messages.

Let that sink in. While developers around the world face bans, demonetisation, or backlash for the slightest controversy, Russian games remain freely available to everyone globally, even as Valve quietly censors content within Russia to appease a regime known for suppressing free speech.

This isn’t about protecting users or localising content. It’s about enabling state censorship to maintain market access, while the rest of us fund it through full-priced purchases. Valve has taken a public stand on issues in the past, but in this case, it seems profit outweighs principle.

If you’re a developer or gamer who believes in creative freedom, maybe ask yourself why we’re still pretending that this is acceptable.
Bit dodgy if you ask me. Didn't think Valve would play along with that sort of censorship.
#1
vkobe 27 Jul @ 11:57am 
Originally posted by Zeno:
This doesn’t get talked about enough, but it really should.

According to The Moscow Times and PC Gamer, Valve has complied with over 260 takedown requests from Roskomnadzor, the Russian state censorship agency. These requests have resulted in the removal or restriction of content from the Russian version of Steam, including games and user reviews containing LGBTQ+ themes, political criticism, or anti-war messages.

Let that sink in. While developers around the world face bans, demonetisation, or backlash for the slightest controversy, Russian games remain freely available to everyone globally, even as Valve quietly censors content within Russia to appease a regime known for suppressing free speech.

This isn’t about protecting users or localising content. It’s about enabling state censorship to maintain market access, while the rest of us fund it through full-priced purchases. Valve has taken a public stand on issues in the past, but in this case, it seems profit outweighs principle.

If you’re a developer or gamer who believes in creative freedom, maybe ask yourself why we’re still pretending that this is acceptable.
it doesnt affect you, but only russian player, so you can still play stalker 2
#2
Rio ⛧ 27 Jul @ 12:03pm 
"The russian version of steam"

Theres your answer
Last edited by Rio ⛧; 27 Jul @ 12:03pm
#3
Rage 27 Jul @ 12:05pm 
I guess if they want to operate in russia they have to comply with their laws.
#4
ChickenTacos 27 Jul @ 12:07pm 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4AxM4nUz3Q
#5
jocoo 27 Jul @ 12:08pm 
Originally posted by Rage:
I guess if they want to operate in russia they have to comply with their laws.
Our's should be so good.
#6
IcarianXT 27 Jul @ 12:08pm 
I support banning russians on steam platform.
#7
ChickenTacos 27 Jul @ 12:09pm 
Originally posted by ChickenTacos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4AxM4nUz3Q
BRO, LOL!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
#8
ChickenTacos 27 Jul @ 12:09pm 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVZqh_DnAj8
#9
Immortalis 27 Jul @ 12:12pm 
And the UK demands that any company offering a in-game chat actively monitor said chat and does their censorship for them or face a hefty fine.
Where's the outrage there?

Any nation has the right to determine their own laws.
If you want to visit that nation or do business there you need to respect their laws.
Not a hard concept to understand really
#10
Acetyl 27 Jul @ 12:14pm 
What do you mean "complying"? Valve isn't your dad, it's a business. If they want to continue to operate in Russian markets they have to follow their laws. Even the Talmud and Protocols of Zion say to do this.
#11
BlackCobra_fst 27 Jul @ 12:15pm 
Originally posted by Immortalis:
And the UK demands that any company offering a in-game chat actively monitor said chat and does their censorship for them or face a hefty fine.
Where's the outrage there?

Any nation has the right to determine their own laws.
If you want to visit that nation or do business there you need to respect their laws.
Not a hard concept to understand really

Have you ever heard of the term sanctions ?
We are on the verge of WW3 mate, mostly because of one specific individual.
#12
IcarianXT 27 Jul @ 12:16pm 
Originally posted by Immortalis:
And the UK demands that any company offering a in-game chat actively monitor said chat and does their censorship for them or face a hefty fine.
Where's the outrage there?

Any nation has the right to determine their own laws.
If you want to visit that nation or do business there you need to respect their laws.
Not a hard concept to understand really

Steam isn't in Russia, so they don't visit russia, russia visits steam.
#13
Taffer 27 Jul @ 12:16pm 
Originally posted by Zeno:
Valve has taken a public stand on issues in the past, but in this case, it seems profit outweighs principle.
At least some of that stuff is literally illegal in russia so it's not profit over principle, it's profit over probably getting blocked in russia, either way those games aren't gonna be sold in russia

If ya don't like censorship then you gotta focus on the cause not the symptoms
#14
jocoo 27 Jul @ 12:17pm 
400 people were arrested in Russia for their posts on social media. 3,300 in Britain for their posts on social media in the same year and Russia has three times the population.
#15
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Date Posted: 27 Jul @ 11:52am
Posts: 49
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