Valve’s ‘Adults Only’ Label Delists Vampire RPG Nighthawks From Steam Search, Delisting It In Germany Amid Claims Of Mild Content

Wadjet Eye Games and its developer Richard Cobbett are grappling with a sudden classification crisis as Valve has tagged the long-in-development vampire role-playing game Nighthawks as “Adults Only,” prompting the title’s removal from Steam search results and outright delisting in several countries, including Germany. The controversy surfaces just weeks before Nighthawks’ scheduled September 22 launch, with both parties insisting that the RPG’s depictions of sex and nudity are remarkably mild—so much so that publisher boss Dave Gilbert has publicly accused Valve of treating the game “like a porn game.” The fallout highlights ongoing friction between developers and Steam’s increasingly ambiguous adult-content policies.

The situation stems from Valve’s decision to flag Nighthawks with its most restrictive content rating, which triggers a cascade of visibility restrictions across the platform. Games carrying an Adults Only classification are hidden from standard Steam searches by default; users must log in, verify their age—mandatory in some jurisdictions—and manually adjust their preferred content settings before such titles reappear. Beyond reduced discoverability, the label can force delisting entirely in specific markets, a blow that threatens Nighthawks’ planned release window.

A Game That Is ‘Way Sexier Than It Actually Is’

According to Wadjet Eye Games, the classification appears to be based on a misreading of the game’s actual content rather than any explicit material. Dave Gilbert addressed the matter directly in his initial public statement.

“We are aware that Steam has classified Nighthawks as an adult game and has excluded it from searches,” Gilbert said. “We are working on it. Valve is under the impression that this game is way sexier than it actually is.” He added, in a follow-up reply, that “Valve is basically treating Nighthawks like a porn game!”

Dave Gilbert, Wadjet Eye Games

Cobbett echoed the sentiment, describing the label as a significant obstacle to the game’s launch. He noted that the trigger for Valve’s decision remains unclear.

“It’s very bad news for us, because it immediately makes the game persona non grata in several important countries like Germany,” Cobbett wrote. “We’re not sure exactly what triggered the issue, but we’ve obviously contacted Valve and we’re hoping that they will quickly remove the scarlet letter.”

Richard Cobbett, Nighthawks creator

Cobbett—also a PC Gamer contributor—provided further clarity on the nature of the content in question. He explained that while vampires carry an inherent sensuality and Nighthawks is undeniably mature in tone, its explicit elements are deliberately restrained.

“Vampires are inherently a bit sexy, and Nighthawks is definitely a mature game in terms of content,” Cobbett said. “However, regarding nudity, sex, and similar elements specifically, it’s really all very mild, usually comedic in tone when it happens, and far less explicit than anything you’d see on HBO.”

Richard Cobbett

Breaking down the specifics, he described a handful of censored “butt shots” and other tastefully obscured elements tied to companion romances. Sex scenes, in his account, are framed as lighthearted date-style adventures that culminate in a fade to black followed by the classic “ten minutes later.”

A Pattern Of Vague Valve Policy

Nighthawks is not an isolated incident; it reflects broader uncertainty surrounding Steam’s content guidelines. In July, another indie title was forced to delay its release after a weeks-long review process flagged “dozens of untextured polygons depicting ass and boobs” in one sequence. That case ultimately resolved in the game’s favour, with Future? No Thanks! eventually launching on September 4.

The core issue is that Valve’s rules do not clearly delineate where mature themes end and adult content begins, leaving developers to self-judge—a burden compounded by last year’s addition of a rule barring “certain kinds of adult only content” tied to payment processor standards. For indie studios operating on tight budgets, such ambiguity carries real commercial risk.

Cobbett closed with a pointed jab at the double standard he believes Valve is applying.

“If you’re not scandalised by the likes of [adult content], you’re really not going to get too hot and bothered here either,” he wrote. “We’re hoping that Valve will quickly reverse the decision and approve the game so that everyone can get to be the vampire they deserve to be as planned next week.”

Richard Cobbett

PC Gamer has reached out to Valve for comment.

Looking Ahead

Nighthawks is set to launch on September 22, and both developer and publisher are pressing Valve to reverse the Adults Only classification ahead of that date. If the label holds, players will need to take deliberate steps—logging in, confirming their age, and adjusting content preferences—to locate the game within Steam’s ecosystem.

For those interested in exploring similar titles while the situation develops, there are plenty of options across genres: laptop-friendly games for low-spec life, handheld must-haves, and browser-based picks that require no install. Indie enthusiasts may also enjoy curated selections of independent excellence, while co-op fans can check out titles built to be better together.