The UK games industry trade body, UKIE, has issued a statement to GamesIndustry.biz addressing the recent removal of adult games from popular platforms Steam and itch.io. This development follows itch.io's announcement last week that it has deindexed all adult NSFW content from its browse and search pages due to pressure from its payment processors. Similarly, Steam has taken action by removing several adult-only games and updating its guidelines in response to similar pressures from its payment processing partners.
In its statement, UKIE emphasized the importance of existing age rating systems and urged payment providers and platforms to trust these established frameworks. The trade body articulated its stance on the balance between creative freedom and responsibility to players, highlighting the necessity of clear and consistent age ratings. “The UK games industry champions creative freedom while taking its responsibilities to players seriously,” UKIE stated. “Clear and consistent age ratings are a crucial part of helping people make informed choices about the content they engage with.”
UKIE strongly supports the adoption of robust classification systems such as PEGI across all platforms, including those that host adult or experimental content. This support aims to ensure that content is accurately labeled, younger audiences are protected, and creators can publish their work transparently. The organization believes that both payment providers and platforms should have confidence in these trusted age rating systems and the enforcement mechanisms that accompany them.
In a related note, itch.io has pointed to a campaign led by the group Collective Shout as the catalyst for the current situation regarding content removal. According to leafo, the creator of itch.io, the platform recently faced scrutiny from its payment processors concerning the nature of certain content hosted on the site. “Due to a game titled No Mercy, which was temporarily available on itch.io before being banned back in April, the organization Collective Shout launched a campaign against Steam and itch.io, directing concerns to our payment processors about the nature of certain content found on both platforms,” leafo explained in a statement.
The removal of adult games from Steam and itch.io highlights an ongoing challenge in the gaming industry regarding content moderation and age ratings. As the debate continues, the role of organizations like UKIE becomes increasingly significant in advocating for the balance between creative freedom and player protection. The reliance on established age rating systems could be a pivotal factor in shaping future policies for adult content on digital platforms.
