Valve has made the controversial decision not to approve the distribution of the game ‘Horses’ on Steam, a work developed by the studio Santa Ragione, which has sparked a wide debate in the gaming community. The company argues that the content of the game could imply sexual conduct with minors, which conflicts with its internal policies. Despite Santa Ragione’s attempts to appeal the denial, their efforts have not been successful so far.
Clarifying the controversial scene
‘Horses’ is a brief experience, lasting three hours, whose narrative includes dark and surreal elements. The controversy centers around a specific scene where a father and his daughter are presented on a farm, a moment that transforms into a confusing situation. Santa Ragione argues that this scene – which involves an adult woman and a girl – has no sexual connotations, and has modified the character involved to mitigate misunderstandings about the representation.
The study has stated that its intention is not to offend, but to use provocative material to foster debate on social issues. However, the lack of approval on Steam jeopardizes its financial viability, as the revenue from this game is crucial for its long-term sustainability.
Valve, for its part, has reiterated that it will not distribute content that suggests sexual conduct with minors, and justified its decision based on previous interventions indicating that the game may not comply with its rules. The situation is framed within a broader context of censorship on the platform, where Valve has dealt with external pressures to restrict adult content. It remains to be seen whether Santa Ragione will be able to bring ‘Horses’ to the main PC video game store or if its future will hang in the balance.