ADULT apps that recreate “photo-realistic” versions of real porn stars have been blocked from popular gaming store Steam.
In a recent blog post, Holodexxx announced that its suite of games had been rejected by the platform three times for breaching its adult content rules.
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The move has sparked debate over Steam’s terms for game publishers after the US company said it would allow “adult content” on its store.
Adult virtual reality (VR) game studio Holodexxx creates a range of titles using scanned models and chatbot technology, according to SexTechGuide.
They promise to let randy gamers interact with AI versions of their favourite porn stars as part of a “personalised” VR experience.
Popular x-rated performers such as Tori Black and Reily Reid have been recreated in VR by the studio.
But after spending a reported $20,000 developing titles, Holodexxx is no closer to getting them onto the world’s most popular PC games marketplace.
The company said it submitted applications to get three games onto the store, all of which were rejected.
One was a “PG-13” Riley Reid virtual model experience that the studio said featured “zero nudity”.
A second game allowed players to “inspect” a digital version of porn star Marley Brinx, while a third let players undress a fictional character.
The company said it is unsure why Steam has rejected its applications to sell its VR content on the store.
Developers believe the inclusion of real-life porn stars may be part of the problem.
“We thought that if we submitted multiple applications through Steam, we would be able to suss out their internal rules surrounding ‘pornography’ and adult content in general,” Holodexx wrote in its May 3 blog post.
“It doesn’t feel like there are any set-in-stone rules surrounding adult content; and if there is, we were not any closer to understanding what they are.”
“What we do know, is that Steam dislikes depictions of real-life sex workers on Steam, which, frankly, we do not understand.
“There are dozens of games on Steam featuring real life mass murderers, but adult film stars are the real threat.”
In a tweet on May 8, the company added: “Someone explain it to us, because Steam won’t.”
Steam boasts a library of more than 40,000 games and a reported 120million monthly active users around the globe.
In 2018, Valve, the game developer behind the store, said it would allow “everything” on its platform beyond “things that we decide are illegal or straight-up trolling”.
Game makers like Holodexxx took that to mean that adult content was kosher, though it now appears that’s not case.
