Valve's Steam Heats Up as Porn Games Drive Growing Ecosystem

Valve's Steam Heats Up as Porn Games Drive Growing Ecosystem

LOS ANGELES — With consumer interest in adult gaming on the uptick, an increasing number of users are seeking saucy content on platforms such as Steam — which calls itself “the ultimate destination for playing, discussing and creating games” — and the mainstream media is taking notice.

When the Steam Store opened its doors to virtual reality porn games and other adult titles in June 2018, much of the adult entertainment industry paid little mind, but as XBIZ noted, the move was “a pragmatic position that liberates the exchange of ideas — even when those ideas and depictions might be a bit naughty.”

Now those naughty ideas are spreading.

While “porn” tends to be a trigger word overused by headline-blaring, shock-seeking mainstream media sources, it does describe some of Steam’s racier content; perhaps “adult-oriented” is a better descriptor, as we’re typically talking about cartoons here. This doesn’t mean the platform isn’t of interest to porn fans and pros, however; besides content for end-users, such as bikini-babe puzzles and scantily clad shoot-'em-ups, Steam showcases a variety of creative tools ranging from custom screen saver- and wallpaper-generating apps to full workshops for building complex VR worlds with user avatars and live chat integration, offering a palette of possibilities for brand promotion and product launches that are available to any content creator — from the humblest cam girl to the biggest corporation.

As an example of the growing media interest, a recent report in The Daily Dot guided gaming porn fans through the steps required to access Steam’s treasure trove of steamy titles; such as setting preferences to display games depicting varying degrees of sexuality, including “General Mature Content” and “Adult Only Sexual Content,” along with the use of content tags and site categories to surface the desired titles.

The article serves as one more data point in an upward trend for adult gaming and for Steam in particular, but is this spotlight on Steam’s success good for its growing user base?

It’s a tried-and-true system for success: launch a new digital media sharing platform and then turn a semi-blind eye to what its users are up to until it attains a desirable market share, when adopting stricter acceptable use policies makes the company more attractive to big-dollar investors — and less attractive to busybodies trying to interfere in anything they see as “immoral.”

Steam now sits in the sweet spot between nerd sanctuary and mainstream mainstay — but as it grows, and more folks take notice, the easy access to lewd games it offers may become a lightning rod for party poopers incensed that something so youthful as “playing games” could also entertain adults.

Hopefully, Steam will continue to thrive by embracing the needs of its user community and help to drive the growing market for adult gaming forward.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

XBIZ Miami's Host Hotel Sold Out, General Registration Now Open

Guest rooms at XBIZ Miami’s exclusive conference venue, Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach hotel in South Beach, are now completely sold out.

Adult Industry Educational, Networking Platform 'Imperfectly You' Launches

Imperfectly You, an educational and networking platform for adult industry workers, has officially launched.

Segpay to Launch News Network for High-Risk Merchants

Segpay has announced that it will launch the Segpay News Network (SNN) on April 15.

Age Verification Watch: Patching the Holes

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Pineapple Support to Host Autism Spectrum Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group for performers and creators who are, or suspect they may be, on the autism spectrum.

ImLive Launches Revamped Member Loyalty Program

Cam platform ImLive has revamped its member loyalty program.

GoFundMe Set Up for Danny Ferretti's Medical Expenses

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Fangear founder Danny Ferretti, who requires extensive lung surgery.

Byborg Acquires Cuties AI

Byborg Enterprises has acquired adult artificial intelligence startup Cuties AI.

Irish Government Releases Report on Sex Work Decriminalization Legislation

The Irish government has released a report reviewing a 2017 law that decriminalized sex work across the country.

Texas Bill Would Require Age Verification for Online Sex Toy Sales

A new bill in the Texas state legislature would require online retailers to implement age verification of purchasers before selling “obscene devices” to anyone in that state.

Show More