Steam’s scale is staggering: in 2025 alone, Valve’s platform hosted over 20,000 new game releases, averaging nearly 400 weekly submissions. Yet behind that volume lies a meticulous filtering process, one that occasionally surfaces in unexpected ways. The latest case involves Earth Must Die, a comedy adventure from Size Five Games, which faced an unusual hurdle before its launch.
According to the publisher, No More Robots, Valve’s moderation team raised concerns over the game’s depiction of an alien orgy—a scene described in the Steam store page as ‘a gyrating lump on the floor.’ The issue wasn’t just about the description; Valve required concrete evidence. The publisher was instructed to record and submit footage of the orgy itself for verification.
While the request may seem absurd, it underscores Valve’s commitment to enforcing content guidelines—even for games pushing creative boundaries. The demand wasn’t a rejection, but a demand for clarity. After the footage was provided, the game was approved for release.
This isn’t the first time Steam’s moderation has drawn attention. Earlier this year, a review of Earth Must Die called it ‘an inventive adventure that leans too heavily on its orgy-centric themes.’ The game’s unconventional approach to humor has made it a talking point, but Valve’s intervention ensures it won’t be censored—just vetted.
The incident raises questions about how platforms balance creative freedom with content standards, especially in an era where games increasingly blur the line between satire and shock value.
- Game: Earth Must Die (Size Five Games)
- Publisher: No More Robots
- Platform: Steam (PC)
- Moderation demand: Recorded footage of the alien orgy scene
- Outcome: Approved after verification
- Launch date: Recent (exact date not specified)
The case serves as a reminder that even in a market flooded with games, no title is too bizarre to escape scrutiny.
