Under pressure from payment processors, Itch.io has announced updated guidelines regarding adult content on its platform

Itch.io has announced new guidelines concerning adult content following the removal of NSFW material in response to demands from payment processing companies.

Recently, the platform took down all NSFW content from search and browse functions under scrutiny from payment processors. The updated guidelines in their Creator FAQ section outline compliance with these processors' terms, as reported by Game Developer.

Violating these terms also means any funds in a developer's account will be ineligible for payment

The guidelines prohibit hosting content featuring sexualized real-life human images or videos. Fictional or illustrated content is permissible if legal, but AI-generated imagery resembling real people is banned. Additionally, content promoting sexual violence or depicting minors in a sexual setting is strictly forbidden and could lead to account suspension with no appeals possible.

Developers who breach these rules risk losing the ability to withdraw funds, highlighting a zero-tolerance stance.

Itch.io offers a "non-exhaustive list" of forbidden content, including bestiality and incest, per their payment processors (PayPal, Stripe, and Payoneer). The platform acknowledges the difficulty in listing every unacceptable product, stating content often requires individual review.

Pending transactions from content violating these terms may be frozen or refunded. This shift aligns with similar actions by Valve on Steam, influenced by a movement from the Australian organization Collective Shout. Their open letter urged major processors to stop servicing platforms hosting inappropriate games.

This pressure has seemingly come from a campaign by Australian organisation Collective Shout

Following the content removals, Collective Shout explained their tactics involved appealing to payment processors after being ignored by platforms like Steam. Itch.io subsequently decided to remove all NSFW material.

The UK games industry body, UKIE, commented on the situation, advocating for reliable age rating systems and enforcement confidence from both payment providers and platforms.