Steam China Blocks 'LGBTQ+' Tag Search, Flagged as Inappropriate Content

Players in mainland China have discovered that Steam accounts registered to the Chinese region can no longer access the “LGBTQ+” tag page, as the platform has flagged the tag as inappropriate content under local regulations.

“LGBTQ+” is an acronym encompassing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning individuals, representing diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

When users in the Chinese region attempt to click on the “LGBTQ+” tag, Steam displays the following message: “An error occurred while processing your request. The content on this page has been marked as inappropriate due to violating local laws and regulations, and therefore cannot be viewed from your current location.”

Accounts from regions outside mainland China can still access the “LGBTQ+” tag page normally, allowing users to browse games tagged with that label without restriction.

Crucially, the restriction is currently limited to the “LGBTQ+” tag search and its dedicated topic page — the games themselves remain unaffected. Titles such as The Last of Us Part II, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Horizon Forbidden West can still be searched and accessed as usual on Steam China, despite carrying the LGBTQ+ tag. Only the ability to browse the tag as a category filter has been restricted.