Itch.io Culls Explicit Games Amid Payment Processor Pressure

Indie game platform itch.io has abruptly begun removing and limiting the availability of adult-oriented content, a move attributed to mounting pressure from payment processors. This decision follows a campaign by Australian advocacy group Collective Shout, which has targeted platforms hosting certain sexualized material.

Users and creators on itch.io started noticing the disappearance of adult games from search results and, in some cases, complete removal without prior warning as early as Wednesday night. By Thursday morning, itch.io officially confirmed it had “deindexed” all adult NSFW content from its browser and search pages, acknowledging the action was “sudden and disruptive.”

The platform’s swift action comes in response to an open letter sent by Collective Shout to major payment processors, including Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal. The group accused platforms like itch.io and Steam of facilitating transactions for games allegedly depicting “rape, incest, and child sexual abuse,” urging processors to cease supporting such content.

Itch.io is now undertaking a “comprehensive audit” of its content. Following this review, NSFW content creators will be mandated to ensure their offerings comply with the policies of associated payment processors. Already, many game pages display a “suspended” message, preventing new purchases and reportedly blocking redownloads of previously acquired titles.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.