Itch.io has revealed its new adult content guidelines, following the de-indexing of all its NSFW content due to pressure from payment processors.
Last week, the indie games platform revealed that it had “deindexed” all its NSFW adult content from its search and browse pages following “scrutiny” from its payment processors.
Now, the platform has updated the adult content guidelines in its Creator FAQ section, with an emphasis on meeting the terms set out by its payment processors (via Game Developer).
“We don’t allow hosting content that includes sexualized images or videos of real-life humans,” itch.io states under its ‘is adult content allowed?’ section. “Fictional, illustrated, and rendered content is generally fine, assuming it’s legal. AI-generated imagery that is designed to resemble photographic content of real people is not allowed.
“Content glorifying sexual violence is not permitted. Depictions of minors, minor-presenting, or suggested minors in a sexual context are not allowed and will result in account suspension.”
Itch.io goes on to stress that its policy is “not an invitation to push the boundaries of what is acceptable” and that violations resulting in administrative action are permanent, with no option to appeal.
Violating these terms also means any funds in a developer’s account will be ineligible for payment. “There is no second chance,” itch.io states.
The guidelines go on to share the terms of its payment processors ( PayPal, Stripe, and Payoneer), stating that developers who wish to collect money for their content must adhere to the acceptable use policy of “all respective payment processors that your account utilizes.”
Itch.io then provides a “non-exhaustive list” of “prohibited themes” for its payment processors, which includes “bestiality”, “incest” and “revenge porn.”
“It’s almost impossible to come up with an exhaustive list of unacceptable products to sell, so often we have to take content reviews one at a time,” itch.io explains.
The platform also explains that developers who have already collected money for content that violates these terms may see pending transactions frozen or refunded.
Valve, too, has recently introduced new guidelines on “what you shouldn’t publish on Steam” following pressure from payment processors over NSFW content.
This pressure has seemingly come from a campaign by Australian organisation Collective Shout, which on July 11, published an open letter to the CEOs of five major payment processing companies requesting them to “cease processing payments on gaming platforms which host rape, incest and child sexual abuse-themed games.”
As reported by Eurogamer, following the removal of adult content from Steam and itch.io, Collective Shout released a statement on Facebook on July 28, alongside a timeline of its Steam campaign.
“In response to false claims and misinformation about our campaign, we’re setting the record straight,” the statement reads. “Some have asked why we involved payment processors, and others have claimed we are responsible for itch.io [sic] removing all NSFW content.
“We raised our objection to r*pe and incest games on Steam for months, and they ignored us for months. We approached payment processors because Steam did not respond to us.
“We called on itch.io [sic] to remove r*pe and incest games that we argued normalised violence and abuse of women. Itch.io [sic] made the decision to remove all NSFW content.
“Our objections were to content that involved s*xualised violence and torture of women.”
Earlier this week, UK games industry trade body UKIE responded to the recent removal of adult games from the Steam and itch.io platforms, stating: “We believe payment providers and platforms alike should have confidence in trusted age rating systems and the enforcement mechanisms behind them.”