Epic Games Store Pulls a Disappearing Act on 'Horses' – What Fresh Witchcraft Is This?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Turns out, developing games is only half the battle; getting them on storefronts is like navigating a maze built by a mischievous imp, as Santa Ragione found with their narrative horror 'Horses' getting a last-minute boot from Epic Games Store after a prior Steam snub. It's a proper digital head-scratcher, mate.
Right, gather 'round, mates, because I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than a rogue spell cast in a hurricane. You know that feeling when you finally get all your ducks in a row for a big launch, and then, at the eleventh hour, some mischievous digital imp decides to flip the table? That’s pretty much what just happened to Santa Ragione, the brilliant minds behind *Saturnalia*, with their new narrative horror, *Horses*.
This isn't just about a game getting delayed; it’s a curious case of digital disappearing acts and a proper head-scratcher of a mystery that makes you wonder who’s truly pulling the strings in the grand theatre of game distribution. This bizarre turn of events, originally reported by Matt Wales for Eurogamer, is something we absolutely need to dig into.
Now, *Horses* isn't your average spooky walk in the park. It’s a first-person narrative horror that unfolds over 14 days on a farm where humans are, well, held captive as "horses." The developers, Santa Ragione, describe it as a deep dive into the "burden of familial trauma and puritan values, the dynamics of totalitarian power, and the ethics of personal responsibility." Sounds like a thought-provoking, albeit unsettling, experience, right? Exactly the kind of thing indie devs push boundaries with.
**The Steam Snub, Part One of Our Digital Drama**
The story of *Horses*' distribution woes actually started even before Epic got involved. Just last week, Steam, the veritable colossus of PC gaming, refused to distribute the game. Their stated reason? Concerns around an "early, unfinished build" – and here’s the kicker – they apparently declined to reappraise the game once it was, you know, *finished*. Seriously, mate? That’s like judging a wizard’s potion by its raw ingredients and then refusing to look at the finished concoction because you didn’t like the smell of the newt eyes. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Was it truly about the build, or were there unspoken tremors under the surface?
Despite Valve’s rather bewildering rejection, Santa Ragione had a glimmer of hope. All other major PC storefronts, including Epic Games Store, had seemingly approved the game for distribution. The path ahead, while bumpy, seemed clear.
**Epic's Eleventh-Hour Disappearing Act: The Main Event**
And then, just 24 hours before *Horses* was slated to gallop onto the Epic Games Store, the rug was pulled clean out from under Santa Ragione. An "eleventh-hour reversal," they called it. Talk about a dramatic reveal! Epic informed the studio that their review had suddenly "found violations of the Epic Games Store Content Guidelines."
Now, what exactly were these egregious violations that miraculously appeared overnight? Epic’s email specifically referenced policies around "inappropriate content" and "hateful or abusive content." They elaborated, saying *Horses* contravened guidelines prohibiting content that "promotes abuse and animal abuse" and "contains explicit or frequent depictions of sexual behaviour or [that is] not appropriately labeled, rated, or age-gated."
To add another layer to this digital onion, Epic claimed they had filled out an IARC Questionnaire (that’s the International Age Rating Coalition for the uninitiated) based on *their* review of the content, which resulted in an Adult Only (AO) rating. And, as Epic politely reminded Santa Ragione, they don’t distribute AO-rated games. They suggested updates or resubmission.
**Santa Ragione Fires Back: "Demonstrably Incorrect Claims"**
But here’s where Jeff, your resident digital wizard, starts reading between the lines. Santa Ragione wasn’t having any of it. They quickly appealed Epic’s decision, addressing each point with the precision of a seasoned spellcaster correcting a misfired charm.
First off, they stressed that Epic hadn't actually highlighted *what specific content* was objectionable. That's a bit like being told your spell went wrong, but not being told if it was the incantation or the wand flick, isn't it? And making "significant changes" with less than 24 hours to launch? That's not a suggestion, mate, that's a magical impossibility.
As for the explicit content claims: Santa Ragione clarified that *Horses* features "four brief" sex scenes, with two occurring "mainly off camera." Crucially, they’re censored with pixellation, use "stylised and unrealistic" animations, and involve no explicit genitalia. So, not exactly in the realm of adult entertainment, then.
And the promotion of abuse? The studio vehemently denied it, stating that *Horses* is, in fact, a "strong critique of violence and abuse in general." It’s a narrative horror, designed to explore difficult themes, not to endorse them. That's a pretty critical distinction, one that often gets muddied in content moderation.
Finally, the rating issue: Santa Ragione pointed out that their *own* IARC submission, filed "more than five weeks" before release, had resulted in PEGI 18 and ESRB M ratings, which were already displayed on *Horses*' very own Epic Games Store page! So, Epic’s "Adult Only" rating sounds a tad... convenient.
**The Automated Rejection and the Lingering Question**
Santa Ragione received an automated response 12 hours later, rejecting their appeal. Epic simply insisted their original decision was "appropriately applied and will remain in place." End of discussion, apparently.
This leaves us with the million-dollar question, doesn't it? What on earth prompted Epic’s sudden change of heart? Santa Ragione insists Epic had received and reviewed a build two months prior, with the final, achievements-ready build being approved a full 18 days before launch. That's ample time to spot any "violations," I reckon. This isn't a case of a dev sneaking something in at the last minute; this is a storefront doing an about-face with the grace of a goblin tripping over its own feet.
**The Wider Web of Storefront Shenanigans**
This whole saga with *Horses* isn't just about one game and one studio; it shines a spotlight on the often-opaque world of digital storefront policies. Indie developers, particularly those creating challenging, artistic, or mature content, are perpetually walking a tightrope. They pour their hearts and souls into projects that often aim to make us think, feel, or even squirm a little, only to face the arbitrary whims of platform holders.
We’ve seen it time and again – what one platform deems acceptable, another flags. The ambiguity of "inappropriate content" guidelines, especially when paired with a lack of specific feedback, can be a death knell for smaller studios who don't have the legal teams or financial runway to fight every battle. It begs the question: are these decisions truly about content guidelines, or are there other, less transparent factors at play, perhaps a pre-emptive strike against potential controversy?
**A "Rallying Cry" Silenced (For Now)**
The irony here is thicker than a dragon's hide. Eurogamer's own review, penned by Matt Wales (the original source of this cracking story), awarded *Horses* four out of five stars, calling it a "rallying cry against hypocrisy, institutional or otherwise, and one that feels particularly potent right now, as puritanism and anti-intellectualism continue to exert themselves."
So, a game critically acclaimed for its artistic merit and relevant social commentary is now facing a significant hurdle getting into players' hands because of what the developers describe as "demonstrably incorrect claims." It’s enough to make a wizard throw their wand into a black hole!
**Where Do We Go From Here?**
For now, *Horses* continues to be available on GOG and Itch.io for those brave enough to dive into its unsettling world. Humble is also confirmed to be distributing it soon. But the Epic Games Store, for the moment, remains a no-go zone.
This whole kerfuffle leaves a bitter taste, doesn't it? It's a stark reminder that even with critical acclaim and a clear artistic vision, the journey from developer's desk to player's screen is fraught with peril, especially when the gatekeepers wield such absolute power. Here's hoping Santa Ragione finds a way to charm Epic into seeing sense, or that players, with their insatiable curiosity, seek out this intriguing title elsewhere. Because, mate, good games, especially those that dare to challenge us, deserve to be played.
Tags: IndieGames, GameDevelopment, StorefrontPolitics, Censorship, HorsesGame
Original article: Eurogamer