Multiple sources are claiming that Steam has restricted access to LGBTQ+ games in China. While this doesn't amount to a full ban, sources claim that Chinese Steam users can no longer access the LGBTQ+ tag to filter through games, reducing their visibility and potentially hurting sales.
This comes shortly after Steam reprimanded a developer for selling a game containing queer content in Russia. If the claims of Chinese users are accurate, then it could be part of a larger effort to comply with bigoted censorship laws worldwide, making it harder for games with queer characters and themes to be sold and promoted in certain regions.
One source for this is ResetEra user Neha, who shared her own screenshots from Steam, showing that the tag has been restricted.
Neha says that individual games with the LGBTQ+ tag can still be found, but the tag itself cannot be searched, making it harder to find queer games.
Neha also translates a post from Chinese social media. "Developers should take note: Steam has now locked the LGBT tag in the China region," the post reads. "Reverse-searching it no longer works. It hasn't reached the point where games with that tag are directly banned, but...
