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Valve at Crosshairs for Removing LBGTQ+ game
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News/Valve at Crosshairs for Removing LBGTQ+ game
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28 November 2025 16:39
Valve has reportedly taken down the card game Flick Solitaire from the Russian version of Steam following a request from the country’s media watchdog, Roskomnadzor. According to a report from Video Games Industry Memo, the government demanded the removal because the game features deck designs with LGBTQ+ themed artwork.
Roskomnadzor sent official notices to developer Flick Games, insisting that the title be pulled from Steam, the App Store and Google Play. The agency claimed the artwork violated a 2006 federal law that bans material “promoting non traditional sexualities.” According to the reporting, the notice also falsely linked LGBTQ+ content with paedophilia. Apple and Google did not act on the demand, but Valve did, removing the game only in Russia.
Valve then told Flick Games that the studio had broken Steam’s rules, saying that titles on the platform must follow the laws of every country where they are available. “[Flick Games] promised Valve under the Steam Distribution Agreement that your game complies with all applicable laws,” the company wrote.
Valve has not commented publicly on the situation. GamesIndustry.biz also reached out and is waiting for a response.
Flick Solitaire has been available in Russia on mobile stores since 2020. The issue only surfaced after the game launched on Steam in October 2025, a move that brought more attention from the Russian government. Russia was the game’s second largest market, according to Flick Games.
Ian Masters, founder of Flick Games, said companies should stand up for LGBTQ+ expression. “This isn’t ‘wokeness’, it’s basic human rights and equality and nothing more,” he said. “If Steam can’t support free speech of LGBTQ+ people, then at the very least they should be transparent about this.”
More:Valve Sued in UK
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More
28 November 2025 16:39
Valve has reportedly taken down the card game Flick Solitaire from the Russian version of Steam following a request from the country’s media watchdog, Roskomnadzor. According to a report from Video Games Industry Memo, the government demanded the removal because the game features deck designs with LGBTQ+ themed artwork.
Roskomnadzor sent official notices to developer Flick Games, insisting that the title be pulled from Steam, the App Store and Google Play. The agency claimed the artwork violated a 2006 federal law that bans material “promoting non traditional sexualities.” According to the reporting, the notice also falsely linked LGBTQ+ content with paedophilia. Apple and Google did not act on the demand, but Valve did, removing the game only in Russia.
Valve then told Flick Games that the studio had broken Steam’s rules, saying that titles on the platform must follow the laws of every country where they are available. “[Flick Games] promised Valve under the Steam Distribution Agreement that your game complies with all applicable laws,” the company wrote.
Valve has not commented publicly on the situation. GamesIndustry.biz also reached out and is waiting for a response.
Flick Solitaire has been available in Russia on mobile stores since 2020. The issue only surfaced after the game launched on Steam in October 2025, a move that brought more attention from the Russian government. Russia was the game’s second largest market, according to Flick Games.
Ian Masters, founder of Flick Games, said companies should stand up for LGBTQ+ expression. “This isn’t ‘wokeness’, it’s basic human rights and equality and nothing more,” he said. “If Steam can’t support free speech of LGBTQ+ people, then at the very least they should be transparent about this.”
More:Valve Sued in UK
Lua error: Error: operator for the hierarchy field 'News.game' must be 'HOLDS', 'HOLDS NOT', 'HOLDS WITHIN', 'HOLDS LIKE' or 'HOLDS NOT LIKE'..