Steam’s Adult Game Removals Raise Possibility of Crypto Payment Processor Scrutiny

• Steam and Itch.io delisted adult games after payment providers faced lobbying to remove titles featuring sexual violence themes.

• Collective Shout plans to pressure crypto payment processors, potentially affecting decentralized gaming payment options.

• Developers and LGBTQ+ advocates warn that broad removals disproportionately impact queer content and creative freedom.

Steam and Itch.io delisted adult games due to payment provider pressure; crypto payment firms may face similar campaigns. Learn how this impacts gaming and decentralization.

Why Did Steam and Itch.io Remove Adult Games Following Payment Provider Pressure?

Steam and Itch.io removed numerous adult games after advocacy group Collective Shout pressured payment processors like Mastercard, PayPal, and Visa to cut off services for games featuring rape, incest, and child sexual abuse themes. This campaign led to broad delisting, including titles unrelated to the targeted content, sparking backlash from gamers and developers alike.

How Did Collective Shout Influence Payment Providers and Gaming Platforms?

Collective Shout issued an open letter urging payment giants to stop processing payments for games with objectionable content. While initially ignored by storefronts, the pressure on payment processors forced platforms to act. Itch.io deindexed all adult content temporarily, and Steam removed multiple titles, some without NSFW or targeted themes. This demonstrates the power payment processors hold over digital content distribution.

What Are the Implications for Crypto Payment Processors in Gaming?

Collective Shout has indicated plans to pressure crypto payment firms linked to adult-themed games, potentially extending content restrictions to decentralized payment methods. This raises concerns about the future of crypto payments in gaming, especially for developers seeking alternatives to traditional payment rails.

Can Crypto Payment Rails Provide a Solution for Content Creators?

Experts like Anthony Palma of Mysten Labs argue that crypto-based payment rails could reduce reliance on centralized processors, allowing gaming platforms and developers to accept payments without censorship risks. However, many crypto payment solutions remain centralized, such as Coinbase Commerce and stablecoin issuers like Tether, which can freeze funds under legal pressure.

What Are the Community and Developer Reactions to the Game Removals?

Developers and LGBTQ+ advocates criticize the broad removals, highlighting that many games tagged as adult content are queer-themed or contain no NSFW material. Claire Houck, a developer, noted that multiple titles were shadowbanned despite lacking explicit content, raising concerns about censorship of marginalized voices.

How Does This Affect LGBTQ+ Communities and Safe Spaces in Gaming?

Licensed therapist Moraya Seeger DeGeare emphasized that gaming often serves as a safe space for queer individuals. She warns that censorship driven by fear and shame deepens isolation and harms mental health, rather than protecting communities. The removals risk erasing queer intimacy and kink representations vital for belonging and healing.

What Is the Historical Context of Payment Processor Pressure on Adult Content?

Similar campaigns have pressured platforms like OnlyFans and PornHub to restrict adult content due to banking and payment provider blacklisting. These efforts often stem from evangelical anti-pornography groups and result in significant platform policy shifts, though some reversals occur after community pushback.

How Does This History Inform Current Gaming Platform Policies?

The precedent shows that payment processors wield considerable influence over digital content availability. Gaming platforms reliant on these processors face challenges balancing content freedom with compliance, fueling interest in decentralized payment alternatives to safeguard creators’ livelihoods.

Conclusion

The removal of adult games from Steam and Itch.io following payment processor pressure highlights the complex interplay between content regulation and payment infrastructure. As Collective Shout eyes crypto payment firms, the gaming industry faces critical questions about censorship, decentralization, and the protection of marginalized creators. Decentralized payment solutions offer promise but remain imperfect, underscoring the need for continued innovation and dialogue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What led to the delisting of adult games on Steam and Itch.io?

Advocacy group Collective Shout pressured payment processors to stop servicing games with sexual violence themes, leading Steam and Itch.io to remove or limit adult content, including unrelated titles.

Will crypto payments provide a censorship-free alternative for game developers?

While crypto payments offer potential for decentralization, many solutions remain centralized and subject to censorship, meaning risks persist for developers relying on these platforms.