Adult content on Itch.io is being reorganized and resent for free, with the platform proposing a gradual return of paid content.
In a recent development, online distribution platform Itch.io has temporarily halted the sales of adult NSFW content, following pressure from payment providers like Stripe. This move was prompted by an anti-porn campaign led by the group Collective Shout, which targeted payment processors over certain controversial titles.
Last week, Itch.io deindexed all adult NSFW content from its browse and search pages to comply with payment processor scrutiny. The platform has started reindexing free NSFW content but has instructed creators who want their adult games back on the store to mark them as free ("no payments" box) to avoid violating payment provider rules. Paid NSFW content will remain unavailable until further negotiations with payment processors.
Stripe, one of the major payment processors, has imposed restrictions on processing payments for content "designed for sexual gratification" due to their banking partners' policies. However, they have not ruled out supporting adult content payments again in the future.
Itch.io plans to re-introduce paid content in the future, but for now, payment on explicit adult games through itch.io is paused. The platform aims to align with the financial compliance demands from partners such as Stripe while keeping it operational for all creators.
Card networks generally support adult content (with the appropriate registrations), according to the statement from Stripe. Itch.io may review the initial list of pages with 'adult NSFW content' now that it has more information from Stripe. All page owners on Itch.io will be required to comply with the new content warning rules to become eligible for indexing.
Itch.io will deploy a new 'content warnings' system for NSFW pages. Developers have a time window to comply with the new rules to avoid going in and out of indexing. The deindexing was due to a campaign called Collective Shout, which accused payment services of profiting from rape, incest, and child abuse games.
Corcoran, Itch.io's CEO, stated that the platform's long-term plan is to implement one or more new processors to avoid putting the platform at risk. No new facts were provided regarding the re-introduction of paid content on Itch.io.
In summary, adult NSFW games were deindexed suddenly in late July due to payment processor pressure. Free adult content is being gradually reindexed with new content warnings and creator compliance steps. Paid adult content remains unavailable for sale on itch.io due to Stripe-enforced restrictions. Creators wishing to republish adult content must remove payment options until further notice.
In light of Stripe's restrictions on processing payments for explicit adult content, Itch.io has temporarily halted sales for such games. Despite this, the platform is planning to implement a new 'content warnings' system for NSFW pages and may consider adding new payment processors to resume sales in the future.
