Itch.io removes NSFW games to comply with payment processors

The service follows a similar move made by Steam recently.

Itch.io has deindexed all NSFW content from its service after a successful campaign from Australian lobbyist Collective Shout targeted at the service’s payment processors.

“We have ‘deindexed’ all adult NSFW content from our browse and search pages,” reads an update from the service. “We understand this action is sudden and disruptive, and we are truly sorry for the frustration and confusion caused by this change.

“Recently, we came under scrutiny from our payment processors regarding the nature of some content hosted on itch.io. Due to a game titled No Mercy, which was temporarily available on itch.io before being banned back in April, the organization Collective Shout launched a campaign against Steam and itch.io, directing concerns to our payment processors about the nature of certain content found on both platforms.”

Insisting that the ability to “process payments is critical for every creator on our platform,” the service says it will “introduce new compliance measures” to appease payment processing providers.

“For NSFW pages, this will include a new step where creators must confirm that their content is allowable under the policies of the respective payment processors linked to their account,” itch.io said.

Earlier this month, Collective Shout issued open letter to payment processors which stated it “discovered hundreds of other games featuring rape, incest and child sexual abuse” on Steam and itch.io, and has pressured those processors to act.

Steam responded with a new clause that states that, “content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers” would be removed by the service.