The Recent Developments in Steam and Itch.io's Crackdown on Adult Content

Itch.io founder Leaf Corcoran recently stated that the situation has developed rapidly, with game developers waking up to a more censorious environment. The rise of digital distribution has allowed creators to control their game content, but recent weeks have seen Steam remove hundreds of games and change its rules to prohibit certain adult content that may displease payment processors and banks. Itch.io has also made not-safe-for-work games unfindable via its store's search function, citing the need to protect its core payment infrastructure. The move was prompted by a campaign by the pressure group Collective Shout, which targeted games featuring rape, incest, or child sexual abuse on Steam and Itch.io. Payment processors have significant power in the industry, with the ability to place websites under evaluation and increase their take, or even sever ties with a platform permanently. The logos of PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard are seen as symbols of safety, and their absence can delegitimize an online store. However, some argue that payment processors should not have a role in moral arbitration, and that their policies can have a chilling effect on artistic expression. Itch.io has updated its FAQs with a list of prohibited themes, including non-consensual content, underage themes, and bestiality. The platform will not host games that include sexualized images or videos of real-life humans, and will not allow content that glorifies sexual violence. The crackdown has triggered uncertainty and outrage in the gaming community, with some developers and fans organizing call and email campaigns to make their concerns heard by payment processors. The case of OnlyFans, which was able to continue its service unaltered after a public outcry, offers a glimmer of hope for those affected by the crackdown. However, the future remains uncertain, with some developers concerned that the conservative culture warriors behind the crackdowns will not stop until they erase LGBTQ people completely from games, the internet, and all public life.