Steam has revoked the Adults Only rating for the narrative-driven vampire RPG Nighthawks. Dave Gilbert, founder of publisher Wadjet Eye Games, said that while the controversy was unsettling, it unexpectedly brought more attention to the game.
Nighthawks was originally scheduled for release on September 22. Just days before launch, Steam categorized it as an adult game, causing it to disappear from many players' search results and leading to its complete removal in certain countries and regions. At the time, Wadjet Eye Games stated they were addressing the issue.
Gilbert stated that Valve seemed to mistakenly believe the game contained far more erotic content than it actually does. Richard Cobbett, creator of Nighthawks, explained that the content triggering the classification included brief shots of buttocks and some censored sensitive areas, primarily appearing in companion romance scenes.
The Adults Only rating has now been lifted, bringing an end to the classification controversy surrounding the game's search visibility and removal in certain regions. This adjustment occurred before the scheduled release date, preventing further restrictions from affecting the new title's launch.
Gilbert later stated that looking back on the entire incident, the outcome can be seen as a net positive, as more people know about Nighthawks than ever before. He expressed satisfaction with the final result but admitted he would prefer not to go through a similar experience again.
The Steam Adults Only rating for Nighthawks has been removed, and the game is still scheduled for release on September 22.