Payment Processors and Censorship in Gaming: Who’s Really to Blame?
Welcome to another edition of Video Games Weekly. This week, we’re diving into the ongoing censorship wave sweeping through platforms like Steam and Itch.io—and why the blame may be misplaced.
The recent removal of adult and NSFW games from Steam and Itch.io has sparked outrage, with many pointing fingers at an Australian conservative activist group. But the truth is more complicated. While this group successfully campaigned to remove the controversial game No Mercy from Steam earlier this year, their influence likely ends there. The real culprits? Payment processors like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal.
In mid-July, Steam quietly updated its rules to ban games that violate payment processor policies, leading to hundreds of titles being removed. Days later, Itch.io followed suit, hiding roughly 20,000 adult games from search results. The Australian group claimed responsibility, citing an email campaign and an open letter to financial institutions. But with only 1,000 emails sent, it’s unlikely they swayed corporate giants like Visa or Mastercard.
Instead, this appears to be a case of financial institutions tightening their grip on digital content. Valve has shifted responsibility to Mastercard, while Mastercard insists it’s just following the law. PayPal, meanwhile, claims it’s simply following Mastercard’s lead. The Australian group, after taking credit, has since tried to distance itself from the broader censorship, particularly the Itch.io delistings.
This situation highlights a dangerous trend: financial institutions dictating what content is acceptable, often under vague guidelines. Worse, their actions align with conservative groups that oppose sex work, queer rights, and free expression. At a time when marginalized communities are already under attack, this censorship threatens artistic freedom.
Amid the chaos, misinformation spread. Games like Mouthwashing, Trials of Innocence, and Console Me were falsely reported as banned. However, one legitimate casualty was VILE: Exhumed, a psychological horror game wrongfully removed from Steam. Its developer has since released it as a free shareware title, with proceeds supporting a Toronto charity.
Other Gaming News This Week
BioShock 4 Hits Another Snag
Development on BioShock 4 has reportedly stalled again, with publisher 2K Games sending it back for narrative revisions. Cloud Chamber, the studio behind the project, has seen leadership changes, including the departure of its studio head. Meanwhile, a planned BioShock remake was quietly canceled earlier this year.
GOG Protests Censorship with Free Games
In response to the Steam and Itch.io crackdown, GOG gave away 13 adult-themed games for free earlier this month. Over 1 million players claimed the titles, sending a clear message against censorship.
Itch.io Reindexes Free NSFW Games
After deindexing all adult games last month, Itch.io has begun relisting free NSFW titles. The platform is still negotiating with payment processors to determine how paid adult content will be handled moving forward.
Battlefield 6 Release Date Confirmed
EA announced Battlefield 6 will launch on October 10. Unsurprisingly, the game will feature multiplayer.
Sony Sues Tencent Over Horizon Clone
Sony is taking legal action against Tencent over Polaris Quest’s Light of Motiram, calling it a blatant Horizon rip-off. The lawsuit comes nearly a year after the game’s reveal.
Raven Software Ratifies Union Contract
Three years after voting to unionize, Raven Software has finalized its contract with Microsoft. The deal marks a significant milestone for labor rights in the gaming industry.
Final Thoughts
The gaming industry’s censorship battle isn’t just about adult content—it’s about who gets to control creative expression. While conservative groups may try to take credit, the real power lies with payment processors. If we want to push back, we need to hold financial institutions accountable, not just fringe activists.
For more gaming updates, stay tuned next week.
