Following recent pressure on Steam, another digital storefront, Itch.io, has implemented similar measures, removing a significant portion of its adult and explicit content. This action was primarily driven by the organization Collective Shout, the same group that previously influenced Steam.
Rumors of these widespread removals began circulating late on July 23, when developers observed that games marked NSFW were being “stealthily delisted” from the platform`s search and catalog, with some projects even being entirely withdrawn. On the morning of July 24, Itch.io issued an official statement confirming these changes and clarifying the underlying reasons.
The statement declared: “We have removed all adult NSFW content from our browse and search pages. We understand this decision is sudden and inconvenient, and we sincerely apologize for the frustration and confusion it has caused.”
It further explained: “Recently, we faced intense scrutiny from our payment processors regarding the nature of certain content hosted on Itch.io. Due to a game titled No Mercy, which was briefly available on the platform before its ban in April, Collective Shout initiated a campaign targeting both Steam and Itch.io, drawing our payment partners` attention to the specific content found on both platforms.”
In both instances, Collective Shout reportedly exerted pressure on the digital marketplaces by engaging with their payment service providers. Earlier this month, the group sent an open letter to these companies, accusing them of profiting from the sale of games containing sexually abusive material.
Itch.io`s statement indicated that the “situation evolved rapidly,” leaving the company unable to provide advance notice to affected creators. It also noted that a “comprehensive content audit” is underway to ensure all materials on the platform comply with the new terms set by payment processors. Moving forward, the “deindexed” pages will remain so during this audit, and all new content tagged NSFW will require additional verification.
These changes represent a considerable setback for Itch.io, which has recently earned a positive reputation among independent developers as a welcoming haven for adult and queer content, including games and zines. Furthermore, the platform is well-known for its “pay what you want” model, which has enabled creators to earn more profit and raise funds for charitable and humanitarian causes.
In response to Itch.io`s drastic policy shifts, many creators and vocal supporters are currently in disarray, reconsidering their future on the platform and organizing against payment processors to challenge what they perceive as unfairly broad restrictions.