"Game developers unite with players and artists in a protest against credit card companies, following the widespread removal of adult-themed games"
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The gaming community is currently embroiled in a controversy surrounding indie game stores like Itch.io and Steam, due to pressure from credit card companies and anti-porn groups. This pressure has led to the de-indexing of NSFW content from Itch.io's browse and search pages and similar actions on Steam.
Key Developments
The controversy began after the release of a controversial game called "No Mercy," which was criticized for its violent and disturbing content. This criticism was not only from gamers but also from groups like Collective Shout, a puritan anti-porn organization.
As a result of this pressure, both Itch.io and Steam have taken steps to address concerns over NSFW content. Itch.io has de-indexed all NSFW content from its browse and search pages, while Steam has taken similar steps.
This decision has had a significant impact on creators and games. For instance, award-winning indie games like "Consume Me," which won several awards at the Independent Game Festival in 2025, have been affected by these changes. The vague nature of the new policies has raised concerns among creators about the future of their work on these platforms.
Backlash and Concerns
The censorship has sparked a backlash from some creators and fans, who argue that this sets a dangerous precedent for broader censorship of content in the gaming community. There are fears that activist groups could next target other types of content, such as queer-themed games.
Future Implications
The situation highlights a broader issue of censorship in digital platforms, where pressure from external groups can influence content policies. Itch.io and Steam are among several platforms (like Patreon and Gumroad) that have faced similar pressures, leading to a complex landscape for creators and consumers of adult or controversial content.
Notable figures in the gaming industry, such as Mike Bithell of Bithell Games and Weston Mitchell of Obsidian, have spoken out against any attempt at censorship of the arts. Lilith Walter, creator of Nightmare Kart, has stated that they will win this and that the system will eventually fall.
Players, artists, and game developers are speaking out and sharing resources in response to the censorship. Users affected by the credit card company-mandated censorship are sharing the contact info for payment processors, such as Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, in an effort to voice their concerns. User Iantos advises to be polite and friendly when contacting payment processors' customer service.
The Itch Bluesky account shared and deleted a call to action posted in the Itch Reddit community, encouraging people to contact payment processors. Valve, the company behind Steam, has confirmed that pressure from banks and card companies is to blame for the storefront axing adult Steam games.
Itch.io, an indie game specialist storefront, has caved to pressure from credit card companies, following Steam. Mike Underwood shared a message with Visa expressing concern about being thrown to the wolves due to pressure from hate groups. The game takedowns have hit seemingly anything deemed or tagged NSFW, with no clear rhyme or reason to the deindexing at Itch or even the more concentrated bans on Steam. Itch claims it has not denied any payouts to creators as part of the recent review.
The future implications of this controversy are still uncertain, but one thing is clear: the gaming community is united in its concern over the potential for broader censorship. The fight for artistic freedom and the right to create and consume adult or controversial content continues.
- Despite the backlash from some creators and fans, indie game stores like Itch.io and Steam have de-indexed NSFW content following pressure from credit card companies and anti-porn groups.
- Awards-winning indie games like "Consume Me" have been affected by these changes, causing concerns among creators about the future of their work on these platforms.
- The controversy surrounding the game "No Mercy" has sparked a debate about broad censorship of content in the gaming community.
- Notable figures in the gaming industry are speaking out against any form of censorship, advocating for artistic freedom and the right to create and consume adult or controversial content.
- Players, artists, and game developers are sharing resources and contacting payment processors to voice their concerns about the potential for broader censorship.
- The future implications of this controversy remain uncertain, but the gaming community is united in its concern over the potential for censorship and the fight for artistic freedom continues.
