UKIE Addresses Removal of Adult Games from Steam and itch.io

The UK Interactive Entertainment trade body has issued a statement in response to the recent removal of adult games from Steam and itch.io, following pressure from payment providers. Itch.io had "deindexed" all adult NSFW content from its browse and search pages, while Steam removed several adult-only games and updated its guidelines. UKIE's statement highlights the industry's commitment to creative freedom and responsible practices, emphasizing the role of robust age rating systems like PEGI in protecting younger audiences and enabling creators to publish content transparently. The trade body encourages payment providers and platforms to have confidence in these trusted age rating systems. This development follows a campaign by Collective Shout, which targeted payment processors over concerns about certain content on Steam and itch.io, leading to scrutiny from payment processors and the subsequent removal of adult games.