Horses Developer Clashes With Epic Over Storefront Ban and Content Rating Dispute
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Santa Ragione and Epic Games are publicly clashing over the storefront ban of horror game Horses, with the developer accusing Epic of making inaccurate claims regarding its content and rating.
The tension between indie developer Santa Ragione and the Epic Games Store continues to escalate following a public disagreement over the rejection of the surreal horror game Horses. Originally blocked from both Steam and Epic late last year, the game has found itself back in the spotlight after an interview with Epic Games Store vice president and general manager Steve Allison, as reported by Game File and covered by Rock Paper Shotgun. Allison explained that while Epic initially had a strong relationship with the studio, an internal review by their trust and safety team led them to fill out an alternative International Age Rating Coalition form, which ultimately triggered an Adults Only rating and blocked the title from the storefront.
Santa Ragione fired back on Bluesky, accusing Epic of making provably incorrect statements about the game and failing to provide transparency or an official certificate that would allow for a proper appeal. The studio also pointed out that full walkthroughs are readily available on Twitch and YouTube, and the game remains legally distributed on platforms like the Humble Store, proving that an Adults Only classification is unwarranted. Furthermore, the developers disputed Allison's professed fondness for their work, stating that the storefront has effectively ghosted them throughout the ordeal.
Epic quickly responded through senior communications manager Brian Sharon, reiterating that the title violated their strict policies on inappropriate, hateful, or abusive content. Sharon clarified that because their internal rating evaluation was not an official submission, no formal certificate exists to share with the team, though the studio was given policy context and had their appeal reviewed. While Horses managed to sell well enough to cover its development loans, the ongoing storefront lockout has forced Santa Ragione to suspend studio operations and seek other work rather than immediately pivot to their next project.
Tags: Indie Games, Epic Games Store, PC Gaming, Horror Games, Industry News
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun