Steam and Itch.io are facing pressure from payment processors who have requested them to remove certain adult games from their platforms. This situation not only affects the market giants but is also having repercussions on smaller platforms. A notable case is that of Zoom Platform, a digital game store that has reaffirmed its commitment not to remove titles, even those considered for adults. After receiving concerns from a payment processor, Zoom Platform pledged to protect freedom of expression on its platform.
This was never about pornographic games
“One of our payment processors informed us that a ‘member of the industry’ was concerned about our content,” said Zoom Platform. In response, the company engaged in discussions with PayPal and Stripe to develop solutions that ensure the right to free expression and the safety of its users. Additionally, it has implemented a two-factor authentication system and a digital wallet to better manage transactions, preventing adult titles from being subject to individual scrutiny.
Although Zoom Platform has no plans to remove any titles, concern persists among developers that not only adult games are at risk. Examples like Grand Theft Auto and Duke Nukem have been mentioned as potentially threatened in this context. The pressure to remove adult games has been driven by Collective Shout, a charitable group that has been involved in video game censorship campaigns for decades, even attempting to pull GTA 5 from some retailers in Australia.
The concern among developers is palpable; as noted by the team behind the cooperative climbing game Peak, “it would be reckless to assume that any game is safe.” The current situation highlights how payment platform decisions can have a significant impact on the diversity of content in the realm of digital entertainment.
