Digital distribution platform Itch.io has taken a bold step to ensure compliance with online payment processors by removing all adult games and books from its store. As a result, users can no longer purchase or access these titles, including those they had previously bought. The removal of adult content from the platform's storefront is stark, with even users who opted to keep it visible now seeing nothing but a blank slate.
The decision was made in response to restrictions imposed by online payment processors, leaving Itch.io little choice but to take drastic action. For game developers and enthusiasts alike, this sudden change is sure to have significant implications for the mobile game development community. With over 28,000 NSFW games once available on the platform, only a quarter remain accessible – a dramatic reduction.
But what's perhaps most striking about Itch.io's decision is its lack of transparency. Without prior communication or warning, developers and users alike were left in the dark as their games and books vanished from the platform. Horror visual novel developer ebihimes shared her shock at finding Sweetest Monster Refrain removed without notice. The sudden loss of content has left many wondering what the future holds for Itch.io and its community.
It's clear that Itch.io was motivated by a desire to comply with anti-pornography organizations, as well as direct instructions from corporate payment processors like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal. Failure to do so would have resulted in the loss of access to online payment processors – effectively ceasing transactions and bringing the platform to a grinding halt.
As a platform that supports hosting game jams, events where participants create games within a set timeframe, Itch.io's actions have significant implications for the mobile game development community. With its focus on indie video games, role-playing games, game assets, comics, zines, and music, the platform has become an integral part of the gaming landscape.
In this new era for Itch.io, one thing is clear: compliance with payment processors has come at a significant cost to the mobile game development community. As the platform continues to evolve, it's likely that its users will be forced to adapt to these changes – and find new ways to create and share their innovative games.