The founder of the world ‘ s largest independent game platform, itch.io, Leaf Corcoran, confirmed in an announcement to developers that the platform would re-index free adult content (NSFW) and synchronize the launch of a new content classification alert system. This was in response to earlier pressure from the payer to drop adult content on a large scale.
Previously, as a result of pressure from “Collective Short” to pay processors, itch.io was forced to take a “one-size-fits-all” overhaul of the adult content on its platform, eliminating the index function. Unlike Steam’s relatively “closed” platform, itch.io, as a user’s platform for generating content, publishes content “at very low thresholds” and, under the pressure of the payer’s review, it is not able to screen the exact content as Steam does, but only with this “heavy hammer” approach.
In announcing the restoration of the content index, Liv Kocolán explained: “We are still engaged in ongoing discussions with payment processors and will gradually reintroduce the payment element to ensure that we can support the broadest possible group of creators in the long term and in a stable manner”. It had previously been reported that itch.io was currently actively contacting other alternative pay providers who preferred to deal with adult content.
One of the main payment processors for tch.io, Stripe, also expressed frustration with the status quo. In his statement, his spokesperson stated: “Despite widespread support for (duly registered) adult content by the organization Visa/Customsa et al., Stripe is currently unable to support transactions involving explicit content because of restrictions imposed by his banking partners”.
At the end of the statement, it was also mentioned that “Stripe has expressed a desire to support adult content in the future”. In his communication with Stripe, Liv Kocolán learned that the company was unable to support adult content “for sexual stimulation”. On the basis of that definition, Liv Kokolen stated: “We may re-examine the list of elements that were originally placed on the shelf and gradually restore some of them.” But he also frankly said that the definition was “almost unwieldy to be operational”.
“However,” Cocolen emphasized, “Our long-term plan is to access one or more new payment processors to avoid the platform being put at risk again”.
The review of the adult game is more likely to go back to the Australian lobby “Collective Shot”. Earlier this month, the organization sent open letters to major payment processors such as PayPal, MasterCard, and Visa, demanding that these companies “exercise corporate social responsibility and immediately stop processing payments for Steam, itch.io and any platform for hosting similar games”.
The restoration of a free adult content index by itch.io is a first step towards re-establishing its ecology, but how to safely and sustainably reintroduce paid adult content remains a challenge for both the Platform and creators. Finding and accessing channels for payment that are willing to cooperate will be key to addressing this challenge.