All articles tagged with #itchio
Itch.io's recent ban on paid adult content, driven by pressure from payment processors, has unexpectedly affected safe-for-work games with lesbian or yuri themes, leading to deindexing and delisting of several LGBTQ+ developers' works, raising concerns about censorship and community impact.
Mastercard denies pressuring platforms like Steam and itch.io to restrict NSFW games, despite Valve claiming Mastercard's rules influenced their content policies. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over adult content in gaming and the role of payment processors in content moderation.
Collective Shout, an organization concerned about the pornification of culture, claimed that Steam and Itch.io host numerous games with themes of rape and incest based on user tags, prompting a letter to payment processors to stop supporting platforms hosting such content. The organization did not verify these claims with the platforms before supporting their stance. The article discusses the history of anti-porn activism and its impact on digital content platforms.
Itch.io is re-adding some free NSFW games to its platform after delisting them due to pressure from payment processors and conservative groups, focusing on content that is already free to avoid payment issues.
Itch.io is reindexing its free NSFW games and working with payment processors to gradually reintroduce paid adult content, amid new restrictions from Stripe that limit payments for sexually explicit material, leading to uncertainty about the future of adult content on the platform.
itch.io is gradually restoring free NSFW content after deindexing due to payment processor pressure, with plans to reintroduce paid content once they secure new payment partners, amid ongoing discussions with companies like Mastercard, Visa, and Stripe.
Itch.io is re-indexing free adult NSFW content and implementing new content warning systems as it seeks alternative payment processors after Stripe's restrictions on supporting sexually explicit material, aiming to support a wider range of creators long-term.
Itch.io is seeking alternative payment processors after pressure from Stripe and PayPal led to the deindexing of most adult games on their platform, amid concerns over censorship and content moderation. They clarify that existing rules are not meant to punish legitimate creators and are actively reaching out to more accommodating payment providers, while also addressing user concerns about access and funds. The situation highlights ongoing issues with online censorship and the influence of payment processors on content availability.
itch.io and Steam have abruptly removed thousands of adult-themed games following pressure from anti-porn advocacy groups and payment processors, raising concerns about censorship, free expression, and the impact on marginalized creators.
Itch.io is seeking new payment processors more willing to handle adult content after delisting many NSFW games due to policies from companies like PayPal and Stripe. The platform is conducting an audit to comply with these regulations, which were influenced by external pressure from activist groups and larger corporations like Valve. They acknowledge the vagueness of their current content restrictions and are exploring stricter age-gating and better classification, while also addressing user concerns about game access and payment withholding. The situation highlights ongoing debates about content moderation, corporate influence, and the regulation of adult material in digital platforms.
Steam and itch.io have recently cracked down on adult content, removing or deindexing games following pressure from advocacy groups and the influence of payment processors, which are wary of risks and moral concerns associated with adult and controversial themes. This has led to increased censorship, uncertainty for developers, and concerns about the impact on artistic expression and representation, especially for LGBTQ and niche communities.
Visa and Mastercard have pressured platforms like Itch.io and Steam to delist or restrict 'adult' games, impacting many LGBTQ+ and indie developers. This move, driven by anti-porn groups like Collective Shout, raises concerns about censorship, free speech, and the marginalization of marginalized communities, with affected developers warning that such bans are often broad, vague, and harmful to artistic expression and community safety.
Thousands of adult-themed games have been removed from Steam and itch.io due to new rules from payment processors like MasterCard, Visa, and PayPal, prompted by campaigns from groups like Collective Shout against sexualized content, leading to broader censorship and industry concerns about the power of payment companies over digital content.
Mastercard, Visa, and other payment providers face backlash after pressuring online platforms like Steam and Itch.io to remove hundreds of adult and NSFW games, following campaigns by Australian anti-porn groups. This led to the sudden removal of all NSFW content on Itch.io, sparking concerns over censorship, free expression, and the impact on LGBTQ+ content, amid broader debates on internet regulation and morality. The move has garnered international attention and public protests, with notable figures like Elon Musk commenting on the issue.
Australian pressure group Collective Shout claims responsibility for influencing Steam and Itch.io to remove or restrict NSFW games, citing concerns over content involving sexual violence and abuse, and lobbying payment processors like Visa to enforce stricter content policies, which has led to broader censorship affecting various types of games, including LGBTQ+ titles.