Adult-themed video games have recently been removed from digital storefronts like Steam and Itch.io, a consequence of pressure from payment processing companies to delist such content. After a period of silence, Mastercard has issued a statement asserting that its actions are rooted in adherence to the `rule of law` and do not constitute an attempt to enforce censorship.
“Mastercard has not evaluated any specific game or mandated restrictions on any activities on game creator sites and platforms, contrary to various media reports and allegations,” the company stated. “Our payment network operates according to legally established standards. Simply put, we facilitate all lawful transactions on our network. Concurrently, we require merchants to implement appropriate controls to ensure Mastercard cards are not used for illicit purchases, including illegal adult content.”
It`s important to note that there has been no evidence suggesting the games removed from Steam and Itch.io contained illegal material. For a more detailed understanding of the situation, Wired and CBC have provided comprehensive timelines. Visa also issued a pre-written response to complaints, echoing a similar sentiment that it does not aim to “make moral judgments on legal purchases” and adheres strictly to legal frameworks.
The pressure from these payment processors reportedly stems from a campaign by Collective Shout, an Australian anti-pornography advocacy group, which has publicly claimed responsibility for these actions. Collective Shout previously released an open letter alleging that Steam and Itch.io hosted games featuring “rape, incest, and child sexual abuse” content.
The group further stated that it sent approximately 1,000 emails and made numerous calls to payment processors, urging them to threaten withdrawal of support from these platforms unless the specified games were removed. However, the outcome has been the delisting of any game containing broadly defined adult content. Developers report that games with LGBTQ+ themes or content have also been inadvertently swept up in this purge. Many have criticized the payment processors for arbitrarily imposing their own—and Collective Shout`s—moral standards on what adults are permitted to purchase and play.
In the weeks since payment processors began restricting support for adult content, several platforms have been compelled to take significant steps. Steam initiated a content purge from its storefront and issued a vague update to its terms of service. Similarly, Itch.io started de-indexing content from its site.
More recently, Itch.io began to `re-index` adult and Not Safe For Work (NSFW) content, while emphasizing ongoing discussions with payment processors. Itch.io has historically used Stripe for its payment processing, but Stripe will no longer support the sale of adult content on Itch.io that fits the description of “content designed for sexual gratification.”
The past few weeks have witnessed substantial backlash against these payment companies, with various game organizations, developers, and artists uniting in protest. The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) has called for “greater transparency and fairness” in the moderation of adult games, while other advocacy groups have encouraged the public to pressure the two main payment processors by inundating them with calls to register their concerns about this perceived censorship.