Itch.io Says 'Sod It' to Payment Processors, Hunts for Friendlier Faces in NSFW Gaming
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Itch.io's facing pressure from payment processors over NSFW content and is now seeking more accommodating partners, while also clarifying its content moderation policies. The whole thing highlights the ongoing tension between creative freedom and corporate control, doesn't it?
Right, so Itch.io's in a bit of a pickle, and it's all thanks to those fun-lovin' folks over at PayPal and Stripe. Seems they've decided to get all judgey about NSFW games, leading to a bit of a clear-out on Itch.io. And Steam, for that matter. According to Rock Paper Shotgun, Itch.io's now on the hunt for payment processors who aren't going to clutch their pearls quite so hard.
Now, you might be thinking, "Didn't Steam have a similar cull?" You'd be right, mate. But Itch.io reckons the difference in scale is down to two things. Firstly, Valve's a bloody behemoth and can throw its weight around with the finance firms. Secondly, Valve's got a tighter grip on what gets onto Steam in the first place. It's like comparing a curated art gallery to a digital free-for-all; Steam's got gatekeepers, while Itch.io's more of a 'chuck it up and see what sticks' kind of vibe.
Itch.io's basically admitting they can't rely on user tags to accurately flag adult content (who'd have thought?), which meant a more… thorough review was needed. They're also waiting on the final word from Stripe and PayPal, which sounds about as fun as watching paint dry.
But here's where it gets interesting. Itch.io's not just sitting around twiddling their thumbs. They're actively reaching out to alternative payment processors who are a bit more… open-minded about the whole NSFW thing. Good on 'em, I say! They're also looking at stricter age-gating and better content classification. Baby steps, eh?
Of course, the International Game Developer Association's chimed in too, with a statement that's about as exciting as plain toast. They're calling for "greater transparency and fairness" in how adult games are moderated. Yeah, cheers for that. They did drop a couple of names of adult-industry-compliant processors, Verotel and CCBill, so at least *someone's* being helpful. I'll have to do some digging on those two. Maybe they're run by actual wizards who understand the complexities of digital content.
Itch.io's also been fielding complaints about the delistings. They're keen to stress that if you've already bought a game, you can still access it, even if it's got a big ol' "content notice" slapped on it. They're not yanking games from your libraries, so if you can't access something, get in touch with their support. And, in a move that's both practical and slightly rebellious, they're urging players to "download and backup your games and don't let any corporation dictate what you can own." Fair dinkum, Itch.io.
As for that list of prohibited themes and topics they put out? Yeah, they admit it's a bit of a mess. Everything from “animal-related” NSFW to “real or implied” non-consensual sex is on it, and Itch.io acknowledges it’s vague. But they reckon it's better to give us *something* to work with, even if it's open to interpretation. They're promising to refine it, but, well, baby steps.
So, why the sudden crackdown? Apparently, it all boils down to an open letter from an Australian activist group called Collective Shout. They're campaigning against the sexualisation of women and depictions of sexual violence. Now, while their cause might sound noble, they've got some dodgy connections to right-wing Christian organisations, and they've been known to mischaracterise games in the past. Food for thought, eh?
The long and short of it? Finance firms shouldn't be the arbiters of what's acceptable sexual material. It's a slippery slope, and Itch.io's right to push back, even if it means finding some new friends in the payment processing world.
Tags: indie games, NSFW, censorship, payment processors, Itch.io
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun