Either Nighthawks has disappeared from search results, or it has been completely removed from listings in certain countries due to its AO (Adults Only) rating.
Nighthawks, a vampire RPG in development for a long time, is scheduled for release on September 22. It is the latest game to run into trouble with Steam’s increasingly strict rules regarding adult content. According to the publisher, Wadjet Eye Games, the game was labeled AO. This led to its removal from Steam’s search results and its removal from stores in certain countries, such as Germany. Despite this, both the developer and publisher claim that the RPG’s scenes depicting sex and nudity are very mild. “We are aware that Steam has classified Nighthawks as an adult game and has excluded it from searches. We are working on it. Valve is under the impression that this game is sexier than it actually is. They are basically treating Nighthawks like a porn game,” wrote Wadjet Eye boss Dave Gilbert on Bluesky.
If a game is labeled AO, it can affect its visibility in several ways. By default, such games do not appear in Steam search results. Users must log in, verify their age (which requires a credit card in some countries), and set their desired content settings before the game becomes visible to them. Furthermore, in certain countries, the rating may result in the game being removed from the store entirely. Richard Cobbett, the creator of Nighthawks, provided an overview of the situation and explained how the AO rating will affect the game’s release. He also outlined the themes and ideas Nighthawks explores and depicts and explained why the AO rating caused such a stir.
“This is very bad news for us because it immediately makes the game persona non grata in several important countries, such as Germany. We’re not sure what triggered the issue, but we’ve contacted Valve, hoping they’ll quickly remove the scarlet letter. Vampires are inherently sexy, and Nighthawks is a mature game in terms of content. However, regarding nudity, sex, and similar elements specifically, it’s all very mild and usually comedic. It’s far less explicit than anything you’d see on HBO.
We’re talking a few butt shots and some other censored naughty bits, mostly as part of companion romances. You don’t get to see anything explicit, and sex scenes typically consist of a fun “date” type adventure to explore the relationship, different character dynamics, and perhaps a small slice of cheesecake. Ultimately, they don’t go much further than a tasteful fade to black followed by “Ten minutes later.” If you’re not scandalized by Dragon Age, you won’t be here either. We hope Valve will quickly reverse the decision and approve the game so everyone can be the vampire they deserve to be as planned next week,” wrote Cobbett.
Nighthawks isn’t the only game that has recently been affected by Valve’s stricter rules regarding adult content. In July, an indie adventure game called Future? No Thanks! was forced to delay its release due to a weeks-long Steam review process triggered by a scene featuring dozens of textureless polygons depicting buttocks and breasts. The review process ultimately concluded in the game’s favor. No Thanks! was released on Steam on September 4. The problem stems in part from the fact that Valve’s rules regarding what constitutes adult content are complicated.
Valve requires developers to assign an appropriate age rating to games with adult themes. However, Valve does not draw a line between the two, so developers must make this decision independently. The situation became more complicated last year when Valve introduced a new rule prohibiting content that could violate the rules and standards of Steam’s payment processors, associated card networks, banks, and internet service providers. This rule particularly affects content intended exclusively for adults.
