The indie horror game Horses has been banned from Steam and other distribution platforms, significantly affecting its visibility and sales. Despite this, it has sold 18,000 copies and generated approximately $65,000 in net revenue, an amount sufficient to pay off debts, but insufficient to finance a new project. Santa Ragione, the studio behind the title, has expressed concern about the lack of transparency in the game approval processes on dominant platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store, which also blocked the game shortly before its release.
Recover the investment, but it’s not out of danger
The co-founder of Santa Ragione, Pietro Righi Riva, mentioned that, although the controversy surrounding the ban generated a positive reaction from the public, it may not be enough to keep the studio afloat. The company has had to seek other work while managing Horses, facing delays and financial difficulties. In a statement, Santa Ragione emphasized that, while they have managed to meet their financial obligations, they cannot start production on a new game without additional investment.
The game, which has been praised by critics on GOG, Humble Store, and Itch, offers an uncertain outlook for its future. The lack of availability on Steam, the main showcase for PC games, raises questions about the performance that Horses could have had if it had been on that platform. Santa Ragione emphasizes the need for greater transparency in the policies of distribution platforms, warning that for every case like that of Horses, there are many other games that are banned or caught in indefinite reviews without clear explanations.
Despite the challenges, the community has provided significant support to Santa Ragione, although the studio still faces a harsh financial reality that jeopardizes its future.
