The IGDA expresses "serious alarm" over the recent restrictions imposed on NSFW games
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) expressed deep concern over the removal and decreased visibility of adult-oriented games from platforms including itch.io and Steam.
On July 29, the non-profit organization issued a detailed statement urging for "greater transparency and fairness" in the moderation and handling of adult games by major platforms.
The statement addresses the recent removals of adult content on itch.io and Steam, actions triggered by demands from their payment service providers.
This pressure is reportedly due to an ongoing initiative by the Australian advocacy group Collective Shout, which dispatched an open letter in July to the heads of five major financial companies, urging them to halt transactions on platforms hosting games that feature themes such as rape and child sexual abuse.
Reacting to scrutiny from these financial services, itch.io removed adult content from visibility on its browsing and search functions and modified its adult content policies in alignment with its payment processor's guidelines.
Similarly, Valve has taken steps to eliminate numerous NSFW titles from Steam while enforcing stricter regulations regarding such content.
The IGDA points out that the "vague or overly cautious" application of these updated policies could lead to games with consensual adult themes being "unfairly targeted," potentially leading developers, including those from LGBTQ+ communities, to "self-censorship."
The IGDA highlighted that these actions have often been executed with insufficient communication, adversely affecting developers who produce legal, consensual content, especially those from underrepresented groups.
"Creators have reported sudden delistings or obscured visibility of their games, despite gaining prior approval or enduring for years on these platforms. The ambiguity surrounding enforcement guidelines and policy changes, alongside no avenues for appeal, offers no clear route to adapt or contest," the statement reads.
The organization emphasized that recent adjustments due to financial entities mean "financial institutions now impact which narratives are available in games, with limited transparency or public scrutiny."
The IGDA supports "developers crafting consensual, legally compliant, and ethically designed games," while noting the primary issue stems from a "lack of balanced, informed, and transparent enforcement."
"Games, being a form of art, should have the freedom to explore topics of intimacy, pleasure, trauma, or identity," the IGDA's statement asserts. "When created responsibly and distributed within the law, these creations merit fair and transparent evaluation, not dismissal due to bias or external pressure."
