By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Game Chronicle
  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Reading: Valve provides clarification following reports it pulled controversial Steam mod worldwide at request of South Korean government
Game ChronicleGame Chronicle
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Search
  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Have an existing account? Sign In
Без рубрики

Valve provides clarification following reports it pulled controversial Steam mod worldwide at request of South Korean government

Автор
Last updated: 08.07.2025 15:34
Автор
3 Min Read
Share
SHARE


Valve has denied reports its pulled a controversial mod from Steam around the world at the request of the South Korean government, saying the mod was only blocked in South Korea and only because it broke local laws. The mod’s author is said to be behind its global removal.


Over the weekend, Automaton (citing several South Korean sources including the Yonhap News Agency and ThisIsGame) reported Valve had agreed to a request by South Korea’s Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) to remove a mod for strategy RPG Mount & Blade: Warband not just locally but overseas as well.


The mod, titled Gwangju Running Man, reportedly depicted the events of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising – in which student-led pro-democracy protests were violently suppressed by the South Korean military, resulting in significant civilian casualties – in a way that “distorted historical facts”. It’s said the mod (which featured military dictator Chun Doo Hwan as its cover), depicted protesters as “armed and violent criminals”, framing the military’s response as “justified”.


As reports of Valve’s response began circulating, some expressed concern that the company was now seemingly willing to remove content worldwide at the request of a country’s government. Valve, though, has now provided clarification on the events leading to the Mount & Blade mod’s removal, saying access was restricted in March – but only in South Korea – after the company was informed it violated South Korean laws. Valve added the mod was then deleted from Steam in June by its original uploader, causing its worldwide disappearance.


Valve has, of course, been heavily criticised for its lack of adequate content moderation in the past, facing condemnation for allowing the likes of school shooting game Active Shooter, Rape Day, and, more recently, non-consensual sex game No Mercy onto its store.


In 2018, following the controversy caused by Active Shooter, Valve announced it had decided to “allow everything” onto Steam, provided it wasn’t illegal, “or straight up trolling”. While Valve has also been known to quietly remove titles when faced with significant negative public attention, it seems Gwangju Running Man specifically fell foul of its legality rules.

Share This Article
Facebook Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Nintendo wants you to literally put your foot into Animal Crossing with upcoming Crocs collaboration
Next Article Square Enix invests in Danish indie studio as it seeks next western publishing hit
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Contact Us

You Might Also Like

Без рубрики

Voice actors “relieved to have the freedom to work again”, says Jennifer Hale, as SAG-AFTRA strike ends

The newly agreed terms of the Interactive Media Agreement between…

9 Min Read
Без рубрики

EA cuts another 200 jobs “in service of driving future growth”, bringing total job losses to around 300

Electronic Arts has cut another 200 jobs, these redundancies coming…

2 Min Read
Без рубрики

Dune: Awakening creative director stands firm on PvP direction, reveals planned frequency of major updates

A Dune: Awakening Reddit AMA has provided insight into when…

4 Min Read
Без рубрики

What it was like inside CD Projekt Red when The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released

On this day 10 years ago I was at CD…

51 Min Read
Game ChronicleGame Chronicle
© 2025 Retro Board Games. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?