Digital Services Coordinator (DSC), based at Germany’s Federal Network Agency, has launched an investigation into Valve, the operator of the gaming platform Steam. The trigger is the video game “Plantation Simulator,” which caused international outrage a few weeks ago. The focus is not on the game itself, but on whether Steam complied with its due diligence obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The game simulates the operation of a historical plantation, where productivity can be increased by whipping dark-skinned characters. It was temporarily available on Steam and sparked heated debates on platforms such as Reddit and X. Critics accuse the developer of normalizing slavery and racist violence.
The DSA requires platforms like Steam to provide an easily accessible reporting mechanism for illegal content and to review complaints promptly. The DSC’s investigation focuses precisely on this point: it aims to clarify whether Valve properly handled the complaints it received. Valve itself has not yet commented. The developer initially modified the game and eventually removed it entirely.
Source: www.heise.de
