Itch.io hid all NSFW games due to the pressure for payment providers

Itch.io has hid all games classified as NSFW* (Not Safe for Work) of their research and navigation functions, making them inaccessible without a direct link.

The measure was taken due to pressure from the Collective Shout group, which sent an open letter to payment processors, requiring them to support platforms with explicit games.

The platform has stated that it is facing a “critical moment” and is conducting a comprehensive audit of content to meet the requirements of payment processors.

“Our ability to process payments is critical for each creator on our platform. To ensure that we can continue operating and offering a marketplace to all developers, we need to prioritize our relationship with our payment partners and take immediate measures to be in accordance.”

“This is a critical moment for ITCH.io. The situation has developed quickly, and we had to act urgently to protect the platform’s central payment infrastructure. Unfortunately, it meant that it was not feasible to warn creators in advance before making this change. We know this is not ideal and apologize for the abrupt way happened.”

Itch.io failed to notify NSFW game developers in advance due to the urgency of the situation, apologizing for the abrupt change.

After the audit, ITCH.io plans to introduce new rules, including a step where creators must confirm that their content is in accordance with payment processors policies.

The action follows a similar change in Steam, which banned explicit games after pressure processors, triggered by a controversial game called in Mercy.

For those who do not know, NSFW usually refers to adult content, sexually explicit or very violent that may not be suitable for public or professional environments.*

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