- Nvidia will not let you change graphics settings on its native app if you are under 18.
- This new mandate is in line with the Online Safety Act introduced by the UK government.
- Some users are saying this may apply to GeForce Now instead of the app, but no assumption is certified.
Increasing censorship has become a massive problem in the gaming world, with Visa and Mastercard being the latest corporations at the end of this backlash after they decided to ban Japanese adult games from Steam. Major companies like Capcom have also been censoring titles despite many creators being against it.
Nvidia has taken this a step further, however, with a new company mandate that doesn’t even give graphics card access to children.
Why it matters: Putting necessary and harmless things like graphics card settings isn’t safe, only dystopian.
People under 18 can no longer use the Nvidia app to change drivers, rendering them unable to alter graphics card settings. According to a post on Reddit, this is because of the new Online Safety Act, which the UK implemented recently.
Many replies on the Reddit thread complained that this is less about protecting children and more about removing anonymity from online spaces. Other users stated that this might affect the Nvidia GeForce Now and not the app or the control panel itself.
Whatever the case, putting something as trivial as a graphics card setting is a confusing move from the company. The problem of censorship has been rampant in the industry recently, with titles like Onimusha 2 and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows using it excessively and feeling the brunt of their mistakes.
Square Enix also went down 27% in the stock market thanks to unnecessary censorship. Thankfully, creators like Nier’s Yoko Taro and developers from Lollipop Chainsaw have called out this behavior, with the new entries in the latter IP being completely free from censorship.
Therefore, even if the wider industry is being strict about what video games can show, there are still voices against this.
Do you think censorship is essential for games, or should it be abolished altogether? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devotedly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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