In a major change that affects the global gaming community, Steam has stopped supporting PayPal as a payment option for several currencies. This decision has come without any public explanation from Valve or PayPal. As a result, millions of players in various regions can no longer make purchases on the platform using this widely used digital wallet service.
The main issue lies in a new restriction that allows Steam to process PayPal payments only in a few selected currencies: the Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), British Pound (GBP), Japanese Yen (JPY), Australian Dollar (AUD), and United States Dollar (USD). This policy change effectively makes PayPal unusable for anyone trying to transact in a different currency. Although European users in countries with non-Euro currencies might still find a workaround by paying in Euros, a large part of the global player base has lost an important payment method.
The impact is significant. Entire nations are now excluded from this payment system. For example, Brazil, which has nearly five million Steam users, can no longer use PayPal for transactions on the platform. This situation worsens with existing restrictions in other areas, such as Turkey and Russia, where PayPal was already unavailable for Steam purchases. The recent change adds millions more to the list of affected users, showcasing a growing gap in the digital payment system for international gamers.
The reasons for this decision remain unclear. The article mentions that PayPal told Valve its banking partners would not support payments for Steam in certain currencies. This indicates that the change likely stems from complicated financial regulations or banking agreements, rather than a simple decision by either company. For now, players must look for other payment options. This transition is often inconvenient and can be more expensive, causing a significant disruption in how many gamers access and support their favorite games.
