The UK Interactive Entertainment Association addresses the removal of adult games from Steam and itch.io following pressure from payment providers

The UK Interactive Entertainment Association (UKIE) recently commented to GamesIndustry.biz concerning the elimination of adult games from platforms like Steam and itch.io.

Last week, itch.io announced it had removed access to all adult NSFW content from its browsing and search functionalities due to pressure from its payment partners. Likewise, Steam has also taken down a number of adult-only games and revised its rules in response to similar pressures.

In this context, UKIE has issued a statement promoting the utilization of established age rating systems, encouraging payment processors and platforms to rely on them. Below is the complete statement from UKIE:

"The UK games industry embraces creative expression while being mindful of its duty towards players. Clear and uniform age ratings play a vital role in aiding consumers to make more informed decisions regarding the content they interact with.

"Consequently, Ukie strongly endorses the deployment of effective classification frameworks, such as PEGI, across all platforms, even those housing adult and experimental works. This practice ensures proper content labeling, the safeguarding of younger audiences, and transparency for creators.

"We advocate that payment providers and platforms should have trust in credible age rating systems and the corresponding enforcement protocols."

According to itch.io, a campaign led by the Collective Shout group instigated the current circumstances. Itch.io's creator, leafo, shared in a statement that increased scrutiny from payment processors arose due to specific content available on itch.io.

"The game No Mercy, temporarily present on itch.io before its ban in April, prompted Collective Shout to initiate a campaign against Steam and itch.io, bringing issues to our payment processors' attention," leafo noted.

On July 11, Collective Shout issued an open letter addressed to payment processor executives at companies like PayPal, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and Japan Credit Bureau (JCB), criticizing them for benefiting from games involving rape, incest, and child abuse found on Steam.