According to Wccftech, Valve removed the free solitaire game Flick Solitaire from Steam in Russia in October 2025 after pressure from Russia’s censorship body Roskomnadzor. The government agency claimed the game promoted “non-traditional sexualities” due to its LGBTQ+ themed card decks and sent removal requests to Valve, Apple, and Google simultaneously. While both Apple and Google ignored the demand, Valve complied completely, removing the game and blaming developer Flick Games for not following “applicable laws.” This isn’t an isolated incident – Valve has reportedly removed over 260 games from Steam in Russia at Roskomnadzor’s request according to PC Gamer. Meanwhile, Flick Solitaire remains available on both iOS and Android platforms in Russia despite the identical government pressure.
Valve’s compliance problem
Here’s the thing that makes Valve’s decision particularly concerning: they were the only platform that actually caved. Google didn’t even respond to the Russian government’s notice, and Apple sent the developer a reassuring message saying their standing wasn’t affected. So why did Valve, which operates the world’s largest PC gaming platform, feel the need to be the most compliant with what’s essentially state-sponsored discrimination?
It gets worse when you consider the scale. According to PC Gamer’s report, this isn’t some one-off situation – we’re talking about 260+ games removed just to keep the Russian government happy. That’s a pattern of behavior, not an isolated incident. And it raises serious questions about where Valve draws the line on censorship.
The developer’s perspective
Flick Games founder Ian Masters made an important point that’s being overlooked in all this. The game is available in 40+ countries that criminalize LGBTQ+ people, and they’ve never self-censored in any of them. “It’s incredibly important that LGBTQ+ people in these countries can see that other LGBTQ+ people exist,” Masters said. Basically, this isn’t about pushing an agenda – it’s about basic visibility and human dignity.
Think about that for a second. We’re talking about a solitaire game with optional themed card decks. This isn’t exactly controversial content by most standards. But in countries where being LGBTQ+ can mean prison or worse, seeing positive representation in something as simple as a card game can be genuinely meaningful. Valve’s decision to remove that visibility matters.
The corporate responsibility question
So what’s really going on here? Valve seems to be taking the path of least resistance when it comes to international markets. But there’s a difference between complying with legitimate local regulations and actively participating in state-sponsored discrimination. As detailed in the Video Games Industry Memo report, this case shows Valve making a conscious choice to prioritize market access over principles.
Masters put it perfectly: “This isn’t ‘wokeness’, it’s basic human rights and equality and nothing more.” When platforms like Steam can’t support free speech for LGBTQ+ people, they should at least be transparent about their limitations. Right now, developers are left guessing which countries might suddenly become problematic for including diverse content.
Broader implications
The real concern here extends far beyond one solitaire game. This sets a dangerous precedent for how platforms handle content in restrictive markets. If Valve will remove harmless card game art, what else are they willing to censor? And more importantly, where does it stop?
Other platforms have shown it’s possible to push back against unreasonable government demands. Apple and Google both demonstrated that you don’t automatically have to comply with every censorship request. Valve’s approach suggests they’re willing to be the most accommodating platform when it comes to authoritarian regimes, and that should worry every developer who cares about creative freedom.
