More companies joined the patch bandwagon because it finally allowed them access to the Steam marketplace. HuniePop in particular introduced gamers to the concept of an “uncensor patch” which would turn the game from an iffy but “all-ages” version to offering nude artwork.

These games put their sexuality at the forefront and tested Valve’s guidelines - whatever those guidelines actually were. Things took a turn for the interesting when the likes of Sakura Spirit and HuniePop arrived on the platform. With the aid of Steam Greenlight, more visual novels and dating sims slowly trickled out. That all changed with the release of indie titles such as Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos and Analogue: A Hate Story. Once upon a time, visual novels were not allowed on Steam.