In a major shift for the indie gaming community, Itch.io has removed all adult (NSFW) games from its search and browsing pages, following mounting pressure from its payment processing partners. The decision comes in the wake of growing scrutiny from financial institutions such as Visa and Mastercard, which have increasingly influenced content moderation policies across digital storefronts.
Payment Partners Drive Sudden Policy Overhaul
Itch.io’s move mirrors a similar approach taken by Steam, where adult content has long been a contentious issue. The latest development was prompted by an aggressive campaign spearheaded by Australian advocacy group Collective Shout. The group targeted titles deemed sexually exploitative, with particular attention on a game called No Mercy, which featured sexual violence and was previously banned from Steam.
The campaign appears to have had a direct influence on payment processors, who reportedly began pressuring platforms like Itch.io to comply with stricter guidelines. In response, Itch.io announced the de-indexing of all NSFW content from its public-facing pages, noting that the decision had to be made swiftly, leaving no time to notify creators in advance.
“Our ability to process payments is critical for every creator on our platform,” the company stated. “To ensure that we can continue to operate and provide a marketplace for all developers, we must prioritize our relationship with our payment partners and take immediate steps towards compliance.”
New Compliance Measures Underway
While adult games are still accessible via direct links, creators will now be required to comply with updated content guidelines to ensure alignment with payment processor policies. A full audit of the platform is currently underway, and some games—regardless of intent or artistic merit—will be permanently delisted.
Among the affected titles is Consume Me, a critically acclaimed game that tackled issues such as eating disorders and societal expectations. Despite its educational and reflective tone, the game was caught in the wave of removals, highlighting the broad sweep of the new policy.
Community Backlash and Fears of Creative Censorship
The policy shift has sparked concern among independent developers, particularly queer creators and storytellers working on sensitive or personal topics. Many argue that the blanket approach to adult content risks suppressing voices that challenge norms and explore taboo subjects in thoughtful ways.
While few disagree that games like No Mercy cross ethical lines and should be removed, critics warn that sweeping NSFW bans can lead to a chilling effect. By appeasing payment processors without nuance, platforms may be replicating patterns of censorship that have historically marginalized unconventional or minority creators.
As the review process continues, Itch.io faces mounting pressure to strike a balance between compliance and creative freedom—a task that may define the platform’s relationship with indie developers in the years to come.
