Itch.io has removed all adult NSFW games from its search index, affecting titles across various themes, from sexual topics to mental health. The decision follows influence from the organization Collective Shout, which targets payment processors to enforce financial censorship against platforms hosting adult content. This action by Itch.io aligns with recent removals by Steam, which terminated hundreds of adult titles linked to accusations of abuse. The motivations behind these moves stem from ongoing campaigns to combat the perceived objectification of women and girls in gaming.
"No notification or anything," says former NYU Game Center educator and developer Robert Yang, whose work explores gay history and culture. "Just found out via Bluesky."
Games are marked this way for a variety of reasons, whether it's due to sexual themes, discussions of mental health, or stories that otherwise involve triggering topics.
Collective Shout, an organization critics have alleged is "antiporn," has targeted payment processors for Itch and Steam, urging them to stop doing business with those platforms.
Valve, which owns the Steam distribution platform, did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but stated it had been notified that certain games may violate payment processors' rules.
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