Steam reverses porn game rating it mistakenly gave to an indie vampire RPG, and despite the stress it was a 'net positive' overall as wishlists on Steam 'basica

Valve removed the Adults Only rating it had incorrectly assigned to the narrative RPG Nighthawks, allowing the game to appear in standard Steam searches and removing regional sales restrictions. The change followed an appeal by developer Wadjet Eye Games, which had not received clear reasons for the initial rating. Nighthawks, a vampire-themed story-driven game with mild mature content, had been blocked from default storefront visibility until the correction. Players can now find and wishlist the game without logging in or adjusting account settings to display Adults Only titles.

Dave Gilbert, head of Wadjet Eye Games, described the experience as stressful but ultimately a 'net positive,' noting that wishlists 'basically doubled overnight' after the rating was reversed. He acknowledged that some wishlists may have been protest-driven but emphasized that increased visibility benefited the game’s algorithmic standing. Gilbert also expressed relief that Valve expedited the review process, allowing the rating to be corrected quickly. The developer emphasized that many indie creators would not have had the contacts or influence to resolve such an issue as swiftly.

Richard Cobbett, the game’s developer and former PC Gamer contributor, shared relief at the rating reversal, stating he could now focus on whether players would enjoy the game rather than the rating controversy. Cobbett had previously noted that the game’s mature themes were mild and comedic, far less explicit than typical HBO content. The initial Adults Only rating had been applied without clear explanation, leaving developers uncertain about Valve’s classification criteria. The reversal highlights ongoing concerns about Steam’s opaque and inconsistent rating system for indie titles.

The incident has drawn attention to the challenges indie developers face when Steam’s rating system misclassifies games, particularly those with mature but non-explicit content. Gilbert noted that the situation could prompt Valve to address similar issues for other developers in the future. Nighthawks is scheduled for release on September 22 on Steam and GOG, following a 2018 Kickstarter campaign. The game features hand-drawn art, narrative depth, and vampire lore without hardcore sexual content.