US EditionIndie Game Storefront Details Sweeping New Restrictions On Adult Games
- On July 28, itch.io removed all NSFW games, including over 20,000 adult-themed titles, from its search index across its platform.
- This policy change followed pressure from payment processors like Visa and Mastercard, urged by activist group Collective Shout to remove games featuring sexual violence and incest.
- Games delisted, like the indie horror Mouthwashing, remain accessible via direct URLs, but discoverability is severely impaired, deeply impacting developers relying on itch.io for audience growth.
- Developers and gamers have responded strongly, with Capky Games, creator of Love’s Heart, expressing that the decision harms numerous heartfelt games on the platform and prevents them from reaching new players.
- The removal sparked backlash including threats against Collective Shout, involvement from police and eSafety authorities, and an ongoing appeals process requiring developer compliance for possible game restoration.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Mouthwashing Disappears From Itch.io Amid Marketplace Sweep Linked to Collective Shout Payment Processor Censorship Push
The indie game Mouthwashing has quietly disappeared from the search results on itch.io, leaving players and developers confused. While the game is still accessible via direct link, it's no longer discoverable through the platform’s internal search—an issue that drastically limits visibility and potential sales. The post Mouthwashing Disappears From Itch.io Amid Marketplace Sweep Linked to Collective Shout Payment Processor Censorship Push appear…
Indie Game Storefront Details Sweeping New Restrictions On Adult Games
Both Steam and Itch.io have become the targets of a new campaign to censor certain adult games online, but the latter has gone well beyond even what anti-porn advocates say they were aiming for with new content guidelines posted over the weekend. Itch.io now bans games containing “themes” around incest, rape, and…Read more...
“Steam ignored us for months,” Collective Shout explains why he sought payment processors
In recent weeks the game industry has been undergoing a major controversy. Payment processing companies such as Mastercard and Visa have given an ultimatum: they no longer want to be related to adult content games that address controversial topics. This has resulted in the removal of several platform games such as Steam and Itch.io. Collective Shout, the company responsible for starting the campaign against such games, was the one who sought pay…
UK games trade body issues statement in regards to Steam's removal of adult games
Last week, one of the biggest stories surrounded {Steam} and {itch.io}, two platforms that made the decision to remove several adult games and titles from their stores to meet the new guidelines being pushed forward by payment processing partners. This has led to a bit of an uproar as it seems to suggest that payment partners have a greater level of influence in determining what video games can be sold than respected age rating systems and bodie…
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