GOG supports Horses following its removal from Steam

CD Projekt's digital distribution service, GOG, has stepped in to support the indie game Horses following Valve's decision not to include it on Steam. On its social media platforms, GOG expressed pride in offering Horses in its catalog, emphasizing that players should have the autonomy to select their gaming experiences.

The statement from GOG reads: “We’re proud to give Horses a home on GOG, providing players another opportunity to enjoy the game. We believe in allowing players the freedom to choose the experiences they are drawn to. To help support the Santa Ragione team during this challenging period, we are launching pre-orders for Horses today—get yours and celebrate their creativity.”

In June 2023, the Italian game developer Santa Ragione submitted Horses to Valve for a Steam listing, but Valve declined due to concerns over certain game content. According to Santa Ragione, their inability to reach the sizable Steam audience could lead to the studio’s shutdown.

Andrea Lucco Borlera, the game's director, shared his frustration with GamesIndustry.biz, saying, "I was quite shocked and in disbelief, because I had invested so much of my life into this project..." He expressed how disheartening it was to see his hard work nearly go to waste due to a large corporation’s decision.

Valve has defended its choice not to host the game, citing a review of the game in 2023. They indicated a need to evaluate the game's build following concerns about the content from its initial store page. After internal review and discussions, the decision was made not to carry the game on Steam, consistent with their guidelines, as communicated to the developer.