Itch.io Removes NSFW Content After Demands from The Collective Shout Campaign

Itch.io removed all NSFW games from its catalogue after being confronted by the organization Collective Shout. The organization began a campaign requesting payment processors cease “processing payments on gaming platforms which host rape, incest and child sexual abuse-themed games.” The campaign affected Steam as well, indicated by Valve’s new guidelines catered towards adult-only games. 

According to an official update provided by itch.io, the platform’s capability to process payments is essential for every creator on the platform. To ensure the platform can continue operating, itch.io is prioritising its relationship with its payment partners by taking immediate steps towards compliance. The platform stated that because the situation was developing so rapidly, it could not realistically provide creators with advance notice before making the mentioned change. 

“We know this is not ideal, and we apologise for the abruptness of this change,” said itch.io, publicly apologising to the creators. 

In regard to the organization that prompted such change, The Collective Shout campaign began its argument with a specific title: No Mercy. In the game, the player rapes his female family members as punishment for his mother’s infidelity. The title was banned in Australia, but drew attention to other games of similar themes within both Steam and itch.io’s games catalogue, which the organization argues breach Australian classification laws. 

“We request that you demonstrate corporate social responsibility and immediately cease processing payments on Steam and Itch.io and any other platforms hosting similar games,” the organization demanded. Both Steam and itchi.io promptly responded to the demands.