On Thursday, Independence Gaming platform itch.io starts reindexing some adult content from last month, due to pressure from conservative groups and payment processors rather than hosting NSFW titles. While the move returns some content to the site’s searchable directory, it only affects games, comics, and other products that are already free, so it’s not stuck in the current payment crash.
“We are still having ongoing discussions with payment processors and will slowly reintroduce paid content to ensure we can confidently support the widest range of creators.”
Itching and gaming platform Steam begins pushing or completely deleting games for adult content in July. Conservatives collectively shouted to target both platforms as part of what the group said was to get the “rape and incest” game removed from the platform.
Valve runs Steam, starting to remove hundreds of games after collective yells put pressure on its payment processors, urging banking institutions not to do business with companies on content on their platforms. When the group did the same thing with Itch’s payment processor, Itch reportedly scored more than 20,000 titles with the NSFW tag, sparking protests against financial institutions such as Visa and MasterCard. These stand out and influenced thousands of creators, including marginalized developers identified as queer, trans and BIPOC.
If itch reaches an agreement with the payment processor, the company will effectively sell anything to the customer. Corcoran said that one of its earliest processors, Stripe, has confirmed that “it will not be able to support adult content that fits the following definition: ‘Content designed for sexual satisfaction.’”
Mastercard said in a statement to Cable that it “has no evaluating any game or any activity restrictions required on the gaming platform.” “Our payment network follows the rule of law and comply with standards,” said spokesman Seth Eisen. “Simply put, we allow all legal purchases on our network. At the same time, we require merchants to have appropriate controls to ensure that Mastercard cards cannot be used for illegal purchases, including illegal adult content.”
When asked how the company determines illegal adult content on the platform, Eisen directed effectively to comply with the company’s policies issued in 2021 to dictate suppliers to use “strong content controls on websites that accept our products.”
Itching and Valve removal are not popular with the gaming community and creators. On Steam, some developers believe that their games are unfairly affected as part of the Collective Shout effort. Evil: Excavation Creator Cara Cadaver told Wired that she believes her game was steamed because of “sexual content that describes real people”, which she said was inaccurate. “Anyone who has the chance to play the game knows that this is implied,” Kudavile said. “The game has a lot of gore and violent themes, but that’s why it’s given.”
Cadaver said it is impossible to unleash the potential impact of the game “significantly reduced” on the steam. “Steam is the largest video game storefront,” she said. “Second people will be able to play evil Even knowing it exists. ”
Valve did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The company confirmed to PC gamers in July that it removed some games that violated “the rules and standards stipulated by our payment processors and their associated card networks and banks.”
Corcoran noted in a Thursday post that Itch will add a new “content warning” system to the NSFW page. The founder had previously told WIRED that the platform is seeking alternative payment processors. Valve has not addressed changes to its platform since the initial news.
