Itch.io's in a Pickle: NSFW Purge After Pressure from... *Checks Notes* *Those* Guys?!
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Itch.io delisted thousands of NSFW projects after pressure from payment processors responding to complaints from a controversial group, leaving creators in the lurch and raising concerns about censorship. The platform is now implementing new content policies to comply with payment provider requirements, a situation that highlights the tensions between artistic freedom and financial constraints.
Right, so Itch.io, bless their cotton socks, has just been through the wringer. Thousands of NSFW projects vanished faster than a goblin nicking your wallet, leaving creators scratching their heads and wondering where their income went. Turns out, it's a right ol' mess involving payment processors, a group called Collective Shout, and a whole heap of unintended consequences.
Here's the gist: Itch.io deindexed a load of NSFW content, effectively making it disappear from search and browse pages. Some creators even reported full-on takedowns and payment freezes. Chaos, pure chaos. The reason? Pressure from payment providers, who were themselves getting grief from Collective Shout, a group that, according to a now-deleted Vice article, has some rather dodgy links to anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion organisations. (Rock Paper Shotgun originally reported on this if you want the full scoop.)
Collective Shout apparently took issue with a game called 'No Mercy' (which, to be fair, was banned from Itch.io *way* back in April). But the bigger problem is the precedent: If they can strong-arm payment processors to target one thing, what's next? That's the bit that makes my digital hair stand on end.
Itch.io's official statement basically said they had to act fast to protect their ability to process payments, which is, you know, kind of important when you're running a platform for indie developers. They apologized for the lack of warning, admitting it wasn't ideal, but claiming it was a 'time critical moment'. Fair enough, being held hostage by financial institutions isn't exactly a picnic.
Game developer Robert Yang hit the nail on the head on Bluesky, pointing out that this is basically a culture war being waged against LGBTQ+ folks and sexual expression. Sounds about right, doesn't it? (Makes you think of all those other unintended consequences in gaming... remember loot boxes?!)
Itch.io is now conducting an audit to appease the payment processors, and new compliance measures are coming. For NSFW content, creators will have to confirm their stuff is kosher with the payment providers' policies. Some pages might even get yeeted into the void permanently.
Itch.io sent out notices detailing what's no longer allowed. Things like 'sexualised images or videos of real-life humans,' 'AI generated imagery that is designed to resemble photographic content of real people,' 'content glorifying sexual violence,' and, crucially, anything depicting 'minors, minor-presenting, or suggested minors.' All fairly standard stuff, really. It's the *reason* these rules are being enforced *now* that smells a bit fishy, doesn't it?
Personally, I reckon Itch.io's in a tough spot. They're trying to balance supporting their creators with keeping the lights on. But the fact that financial companies, pressured by groups with questionable agendas, are calling the shots? That's a worry, mate. What kind of expression will they decide is unacceptable next? It's enough to make you want to go back to playing text-based adventures on a ZX Spectrum.
Fair dinkum, this whole situation highlights the challenges of running a platform that supports diverse content. Itch.io's trying to navigate a minefield, but it's a reminder that even in the digital world, freedom of expression can be surprisingly fragile. Let's hope they manage to find a way through this without sacrificing the indie spirit that makes them so brilliant. I’m cautiously optimistic, but also keeping a wary eye on those payment processors...
Tags: itch.io, NSFW, censorship, indie games, payment processors
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun