Itch.io removes adult games due to advocacy group pressure

Itch.io has decided to deindex adult games following pressure from Collective Shout.

Itch.io removes adult games after pressure from advocacy group

Indie video game marketplace Itch.io has announced the removal of adult and not-safe-for-work games from its platform. The decision comes in response to a campaign by the advocacy group Collective Shout, which criticized Itch.io and Steam for hosting the controversial game "No Mercy," which features graphic sexual content. Collective Shout sent an open letter to major payment processors like PayPal and Mastercard, arguing that supporting payment transactions for such games contradicts their corporate missions against violence towards women. Both Itch.io and Steam have indicated that they must comply with their payment partners' rules, leading to Itch.io's immediate removal of adult content.

This decision by Itch.io highlights the growing tensions between creative expression in the gaming industry and the influences of advocacy groups and financial institutions. As gaming platforms face pressure from payment processors to regulate content, it raises important discussions about censorship versus community standards. The deindexing of adult content could set a precedent, potentially limiting the ability of developers to create diverse and provocative games and pointing to a broader cultural shift towards stricter controls over digital content.

Highlights

The impact of these decisions on the gaming landscape will unfold in the coming months.