Payment Processors Clamp Down on Adult Games, Sparking Industry-Wide Controversy
Adult Games Face New Restrictions on itch.io Amid Payment Processor Pressure
Adult games are stirring up quite a storm in the gaming world as platforms like itch.io follow Steam’s footsteps and start removing or hiding adult and NSFW content. This sudden change comes after payment processors such as Visa and Mastercard pressured these storefronts to crack down on certain types of games. As of last Thursday, itch.io has de-indexed adult content, making it invisible and unsearchable on their site. Some adult game pages will be permanently removed, according to the platform’s creator, Leaf Corcoran.
- itch.io removes adult games under pressure from payment processors
- Steam’s earlier crackdown set a precedent
- Controversy fueled by conservative group Collective Shout
- Developers and fans react to vague compliance rules
- Ongoing debates about censorship and freedom in gaming
Why Are Adult Games Being Pulled?
The main reason behind this wave of removals is the risk of losing payment methods. Valve, the company behind Steam, explained that without Visa or Mastercard, customers wouldn’t be able to buy *any* games on their platform, not just adult ones. Itch.io echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to protect their core payment infrastructure. This urgency led to a rapid decision, with creators receiving little to no advance notice.
Currently, itch.io is conducting a thorough audit of games that might violate payment processor rules. However, neither Valve nor itch.io has clarified what exactly these rules entail, leaving many developers and players frustrated and confused. Going forward, creators will have to confirm their games comply with these vaguely defined standards before selling on itch.io.
The Controversy and Backlash
This issue has sparked heated debates online, with many worried about the slippery slope of censorship. A significant part of the pressure comes from an Australian conservative group called Collective Shout. They launched a campaign targeting games they consider offensive, even accusing platforms of profiting from titles depicting extreme content like rape and incest. Notably, one such game, *No Mercy*, was removed from Steam just before Collective Shout’s open letter was published.
Despite some games clearly crossing lines, many others affected don’t fit the accusations but have been caught in the crossfire anyway. Fans fear that by giving in to such groups, platforms might soon restrict games with LGBTQ+ themes or other content that challenges conservative views.
One Reddit comment summed it up well:
“It is a VERY fucking slippery slope and a very quick slope for the right wing religious group to go from ‘no sex games’ to ‘no games with any LGBTQ+ themes, either’.”
Collective Shout’s campaigns have also targeted mainstream titles like *Grand Theft Auto 5*, raising concerns about what might come next.
Real-World Consequences and Community Response
The fallout extends beyond storefronts. Vice’s gaming site Waypoint faced internal conflict after publishing an article about Collective Shout, which was later pulled by management. This led to multiple freelancers quitting in protest.
Meanwhile, gamers are mobilizing against payment processor influence. There’s a bill in the US Senate aiming to limit how much payment companies can interfere with business decisions based on political or reputational grounds. Fans are urged to contact their representatives and have already gathered over 48,000 signatures on a petition demanding that Mastercard and Visa stop controlling what people can watch, read, or play.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/401
What’s Next for Adult Games and Platforms?
For many, itch.io and Steam were safe havens for adult games that wouldn’t fit elsewhere. The sudden shift has damaged trust and sparked fears that the PC gaming space is losing its freedom compared to consoles. Some community members see this as a direct attack on their identity and expression.
One comment on the petition highlights this concern:
“My community has routinely been unjustly targeted by bigots, who often use porn bans as a means to justify the banning as non-pornographic content. As a result, I am heavily [opposed] to any and all banning of sexual content, because banning sexual content never stops there, it always include non-sexual things. As such the fight to protect peoples’ right to sexual expression is vital for protecting my right to exist.”
Leaf Corcoran promises to share more details on what will be allowed on itch.io once they have a better grasp of the situation. For now, the platform is in damage control mode, apologizing for the abruptness but emphasizing the need to safeguard payment systems.
Read itch.io’s official statement here.
Discussion on Reddit about Steam’s censorship
Collective Shout’s open letter to payment processors
