Many countries banned from using PayPal for Steam games in latest payment processor drama
Payment processors are again limiting both the selection and accessibility of Steam games. For about a month, buyers in various countries have noticed PayPal is not available during checkout. Valve’s marketplace now explains that the banks PayPal uses for many currencies are no longer an option. In fact, only gamers spending funds in EUR, USD, CAD, GBP, JPY, and AUD can still rely on the service for purchases.
As highlighted on Reddit, droves of gamers around the world must now choose alternative payment methods. Valve hopes to reinstate PayPal for these nations, but has no timetable for its return. Neither Steam nor PayPal has yet to provide a more detailed explanation, leading to speculation about why buyers are facing this dilemma.
Some observers believe the limitations are related to recent bans on Steam games. In July, titles with mature themes began to disappear. Valve claimed that some listings had content that didn’t align with standards set by its payment processors. A controversy soon unfolded involving Collective Shout. The activist group, which is against the objectification of females, took credit for influencing the banks.
Other explanations for Steam's PayPal woes
Critics argue that legal Steam games are being unfairly targeted. Still, there may be other reasons why PayPal is no longer an option for many buyers. Australia is the home to Collective Shout, and gamers in the country can still use the payment gateway.
It’s possible that the banks PayPal works with in some countries have concerns about fraud. Customers using VPNs to access lower prices in other regions can also raise red flags. Regardless, gamers are growing frustrated over the power that payment processors have in the industry.
For now, Valve suggests that affected users choose their Steam Wallets, Steam gift cards, or a credit card as alternatives. Yet, major credit cards like Mastercard are also accused of interfering with gamers. The end result is that amassing a diverse Steam library is becoming more challenging.
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