Steam, Epic Confront 90% Access Restrictions Due to Turkish Regulations

Türkiye’s digital gaming landscape faces significant upheaval as the Family and Social Services Ministry proposes new legislation that may impose drastic access restrictions. The draft law aims to affect major platforms like Steam and Epic Games, potentially throttling up to 90% of user traffic if compliance is not met.

Key Provisions of the Draft Legislation

The proposed regulations focus on several critical areas:

• Local Presence Requirement: Platforms exceeding a specified daily user threshold would need to establish official offices in Türkiye and appoint local representatives.
• Bandwidth Throttling: Non-compliance could result in a bandwidth reduction of up to 90%, crippling service usability.
• Age Rating Mandate: All games aimed at Turkish users must display age ratings from recognized organizations such as PEGI or ESRB.

Impact on Independent Developers

The legislation introduces age rating requirements that could severely impact independent developers. Major publishers can typically cover the costs of acquiring official classifications. However, many smaller studios struggle to afford the associated fees.

Observers estimate that around 60% of Steam’s game catalogue consists of titles without formal age ratings, primarily from indie developers. Without compliance, these games could be barred from sale in Türkiye.

Increased Oversight and Data Access

The proposed framework would grant Türkiye’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) considerable oversight. They would have the power to monitor game content and demand edits or removals of titles deemed inappropriate.

Additionally, the BTK could request user data and technical logs from platforms under claims of public interest, particularly concerning child safety. This aligns with the government’s three main objectives:

• Shielding children and families from harmful content.
• Establishing jurisdiction over companies lacking a Turkish presence.
• Increasing tax revenues through localized legal obligations.

Market Reaction

The uncertainty surrounding these regulations could lead major platforms to reconsider their presence in Türkiye. Similar to PayPal’s previous exit, the operational burdens might outweigh the market’s potential.

If the throttling penalties take effect, Turkish users could lose access to their digital libraries, raising concerns among those who have invested heavily in their collections. Furthermore, even compliant platforms may raise prices to reflect the operational costs of adhering to local laws, removing current benefits of regional pricing.

Current Status of the Legislation

As of now, the draft legislation is under review with no confirmed timeline for parliamentary discussion or finalization. The outcome could reshape the entire digital gaming environment in Türkiye, impacting millions of gamers and developers alike.