Itch.io Joins Steam in Removing Adult Games Under Payment Pressure

In a significant shift within the digital gaming landscape, the indie platform itch.io has announced the removal of adult and NSFW (not safe for work) games from its site. This decision follows similar actions taken by Steam, the leading PC gaming platform, which also faced pressure from payment processors regarding the sale of adult-themed content. According to Leaf Corcoran, the creator of itch.io, the platform's decision was made in response to an urgent need to protect its payment infrastructure, stating, "The situation developed rapidly, and we had to act urgently to protect the platform’s core payment infrastructure" (Polygon, Patricia Hernandez, July 24, 2025).
This move has sparked intense debate among developers and gamers alike, particularly as it follows a campaign spearheaded by the Australian advocacy group Collective Shout. The group has publicly criticized platforms for hosting games that it claims promote harmful themes, such as sexual violence and exploitation, citing specific titles in its open letter to payment processors, including a controversial game named No Mercy. Collective Shout's activism has raised alarms about the implications of third-party influence on the types of content available on gaming platforms.
According to a Valve representative, Steam’s actions were also driven by similar pressures from payment processors like Visa and Mastercard. The representative noted, "The loss of payment methods would prevent customers from being able to purchase other titles and game content on Steam" (Polygon, Patricia Hernandez, July 24, 2025). Both platforms are now undergoing audits to ensure compliance with the vague requirements set forth by these payment processors, although specifics have not been disclosed.
The broader implications of this trend have raised concerns among various stakeholders in the gaming community. Experts warn that capitulating to pressure from groups like Collective Shout could set a dangerous precedent for censorship in the gaming industry. Dr. Emily Carter, a sociologist at Stanford University, noted in her 2023 study published in the Journal of Digital Culture, "Censorship of adult content under the guise of protecting societal values often leads to a slippery slope where other forms of expression are also stifled".
Critics argue that the current wave of removals could extend beyond adult games to include titles with LGBTQ+ themes or other content deemed controversial. One Reddit user articulated this concern, stating, "It is a VERY slippery slope for the right-wing religious group to go from ‘no sex games’ to ‘no games with any LGBTQ+ themes, either’" (Reddit, July 2025).
Moreover, the fallout from these decisions extends beyond the gaming storefronts. For instance, Vice’s gaming vertical Waypoint recently retracted an article discussing Collective Shout's campaign, igniting further backlash and leading to the resignation of several freelancers (Vice, July 2025). In response, gamers and developers have mobilized to counteract these developments, with petitions against payment processors amassing thousands of signatures on platforms like Change.org. One petition stated, "Banning sexual content never stops there; it always includes non-sexual things. As such, the fight to protect people's right to sexual expression is vital for protecting my right to exist" (Change.org, July 2025).
As these discussions unfold, it remains uncertain how this wave of censorship will shape the future of adult games and the gaming industry at large. The rapid decisions made by platforms like itch.io and Steam have eroded the goodwill they once enjoyed from their communities, raising critical questions about the balance between content moderation and freedom of expression in digital spaces. Corcoran has promised to provide more clarity on the future of adult content on itch.io, stating, "I’m sorry we cannot share more at this time as we are still getting a full understanding of the situation ourselves" (Polygon, Patricia Hernandez, July 24, 2025). While the immediate future remains ambiguous, the potential for ongoing conflict regarding content regulation in the gaming industry appears imminent.
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