The Impact of Steam and itch.io's Crackdown on Adult Content in the Gaming Industry

The situation has unfolded rapidly, with Steam removing hundreds of games and itch.io making not-safe-for-work games unfindable via its store's search function. This move has been attributed to the pressure exerted by payment processors, who are wary of the potential risks and costs associated with hosting adult content. The founder of itch.io, Leaf Corcoran, stated that the platform had to act urgently to protect its core payment infrastructure. The crackdown has raised questions about the role of payment processors in shaping the content available on gaming platforms and the potential impact on artistic expression and freedom of speech. Game developers are now faced with uncertainty and are calling for clearer guidelines on what is and isn't acceptable on these platforms. The community has responded with defiance, organizing call and email campaigns to express their concerns to payment processors.