Updated: 8/1/2025 4:18 p.m. ET: In a statement to Kotaku, a spokesperson for Valve said that while Mastercard did not communicate with it directly, concerns did come through payment processor and banking intermediaries. They said payment processors rejected Valve’s current guidelines for moderating illegal content on Steam, citing Mastercard’s Rule 5.12.7.

“Mastercard did not communicate with Valve directly, despite our request to do so,” Valve’s statement sent over email to Kotaku reads. “Mastercard communicated with payment processors and their acquiring banks.  Payment processors communicated this with Valve, and we replied by outlining Steam’s policy since 2018 of attempting to distribute games that are legal for distribution.  Payment processors rejected this, and specifically cited Mastercard’s Rule 5.12.7 and risk to the Mastercard brand.”

Rule 5.12.7 states, “A Merchant must not submit to its Acquirer, and a Customer must not submit to the Interchange System, any Transaction that is illegal, or in the sole discretion of the Corporation, may damage the goodwill of the Corporation or reflect negatively on the Marks.”

It goes on, “The sale of a product or service, including an image, which is patently offensive and lacks serious artistic value (such as, by way of example and not limitation, images of nonconsensual sexual behavior, sexual exploitation of a minor, nonconsensual mutilation of a person or body part, and bestiality), or any other material that the Corporation deems unacceptable to sell in connection with a Mark.”

Violations of rule 5.12.7 can result in fines, audits, or companies being dropped by the payment processors.

  • fishy@lemmy.today
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    14 hours ago

    I only have about 20ish hours of work weekly and I’m on a hybrid schedule. My two days at home I’m essentially paid to game since I need to be available but don’t have anything to do. Am I a pro gamer now?

    • Korhaka@sopuli.xyz
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      13 hours ago

      I think I did a whole 4 hours of work last week. Really pushing myself lately.

    • ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml
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      13 hours ago

      My first work from home job was a lot like that. My next two after that were only like that sometimes.

      • fishy@lemmy.today
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        12 hours ago

        This same position in another company was a 60 hour job. They required all information to be shared in PowerPoint with images so I’d effectively spend 30 hours a week making presentations that lasted an hour or two at most, but could’ve been a chart in an email.

        This spot started as 40 hours a week, but I automated most tasks and just don’t share the files and bi templates. They spend ten hours a week on a task I’ve automated to 30 minutes because their excel guru can’t figure out a formula I googled. They’re promoting me to a Sr. position with glowing reviews and I’ve never worked less in my life.