Steam and itch.io Game De-indexing: Difference between revisions

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|Description=April 2025, Steam and itch.io de-indexed video games without notice.

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{{MergeRequest|Overlooked article on same incident|[[Valve allows ISPs and payment processors to censor content on Steam]]}}

===Background===

*In April 2025, the game ''No Mercy'' (described by critics as a 'rape simulator', but by its developer as a 'choice-driven adult visual novel') was briefly available on ''Steam'' and ''itch.io'' before being removed. This game attracted the attention of [[Collective Shout]], an Australian anti-pornography advocacy group, which launched a campaign against both platforms.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=leafo@moonscript |date=July 24, 2025 |title=Update on NSFW Content |url=https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content |archive-url= |archive-date= |website=itch.io }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title= |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/jul/29/why-did-adult-titles-disappear-from-steam-itch-pc-gaming-payment-processors |archive-url= |archive-date= |website= }}</ref>

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==Consumer response==

~~{{Ph~~-I-~~ConR}}~~

*Backlash and advocacy: A Change.org petition demanding payment processors "stop controlling what we can watch, read, or play" garnered over 150,000 signatures. Consumers flooded payment processors with complaints.

*Industry criticism: Developers and advocacy groups, such as the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), condemned the actions as "censorship-by-fiat" and warned of broader implications for creative expression.

*Platform alternatives: itch.io is seeking alternative payment processors willing to support adult content, while Steam has maintained its updated policies.

==References==

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 |Description=April 2025, Steam and itch.io de-indexed video games without notice.
 }}
+{{MergeRequest|Overlooked article on same incident|[[Valve allows ISPs and payment processors to censor content on Steam]]}}
 ===Background===
 *In April 2025, the game ''No Mercy'' (described by critics as a 'rape simulator', but by its developer as a 'choice-driven adult visual novel') was briefly available on ''Steam'' and ''itch.io'' before being removed. This game attracted the attention of [[Collective Shout]], an Australian anti-pornography advocacy group, which launched a campaign against both platforms.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=leafo@moonscript |date=July 24, 2025 |title=Update on NSFW Content |url=https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content |archive-url= |archive-date= |website=itch.io }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title= |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/jul/29/why-did-adult-titles-disappear-from-steam-itch-pc-gaming-payment-processors |archive-url= |archive-date= |website= }}</ref>
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 ==Consumer response==
-{{Ph-I-ConR}}
+*Backlash and advocacy: A Change.org petition demanding payment processors "stop controlling what we can watch, read, or play" garnered over 150,000 signatures. Consumers flooded payment processors with complaints.
+*Industry criticism: Developers and advocacy groups, such as the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), condemned the actions as "censorship-by-fiat" and warned of broader implications for creative expression.
+*Platform alternatives: itch.io is seeking alternative payment processors willing to support adult content, while Steam has maintained its updated policies.
 ==References==