Last week, the independent game marketplace Itch.io delisted a significant portion of its adult-oriented or “not safe for work” (NSFW) content. While these games were not entirely removed, they became undiscoverable through the site`s search function. This action followed a campaign by the organization Collective Shout, which pressured payment processors to block transactions for specific types of content on both Itch.io and Steam.
In response to these developments, Itch.io has updated its FAQ, announcing its active search for alternative payment processors that are more accommodating of NSFW and adult content.
Regarding the timeline for these changes, Itch.io explained, “The situation is evolving as we await final determinations from our current payment processors, Stripe and PayPal. There are still unknowns that prevent us from providing a fixed timeline.” They added, “In the meantime, we are actively reaching out to other payment processors that are more willing to work with this kind of content. We have suspended the ability to pay with Stripe for 18+ content for the foreseeable future. Our immediate focus has been on content classification reviews and implementing stricter age-gating on the site.”
The expanded FAQ also clarified why Itch.io experienced a more extensive removal of games compared to Steam. Itch.io highlighted the fundamental difference in their platform structures: Steam operates as a “closed” platform, where every product page undergoes approval before appearing in the store, allowing them to identify and act on specific content effectively.
Conversely, Itch.io functions as an open, “User-Generated Content” (UGC) platform. With over two million product pages, anyone can publish content with minimal barriers at any time. Due to the unreliability of user-provided tagging for a targeted approach, a broader, more comprehensive review was deemed necessary to ensure thoroughness.
Since these changes, payment processors like Visa and Mastercard have reportedly been inundated with communications from individuals pushing back against the ban on adult content. Furthermore, the International Game Developers Association has issued a statement condemning these actions.