Posted July 24, 2025 by FlimsyLegs
Hi everyone... It saddens me to say that I will not update my games here on itch for a while due to this: https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content
I strongly suggest you let your voices be heard in this censorship of adult content. Itch has hidden ALL nsfw titles, and the future is unclear for everyone. I know for a fact people of all genders enjoy my kinky adventures, but payment processors are out to censor a whole bunch of adult content, likely lowest hanging fruit is kink.
I hope this storm blows over. If not, it was nice knowing you all. Thank you for your kind words and downloads. I wish I can continue updating my games here, but if itch doesn't like the adult content many of us developers are passionate about, then there's nothing I can do...
Yours truly,
FlimsyLegs
EDIT 1: There's a general "protect sex workers rights" petition that aims to combat the policy changes to mastercard, essentially the petition fights the same censorship clause that affects NSFW games as well. You can make your voices heard by signing: https://action.aclu.org/petition/mastercard-sex-work-work-end-your-unjust-policy...
EDIT 2: Another petition to sign: https://www.change.org/p/tell-mastercard-visa-activist-groups-stop-controlling-w...
EDIT 3: A few bills that are relevant too: [REDACTED - These were bills that probably will not help the adult industry at all]
EDIT 4: You can directly tell Visa you disapprove of their behavior: https://investor.visa.com/corporate-governance/contact-the-board/default.aspx
EDIT 5: Someone compiled a google document with a lot of templates and additional links and instructions for how to make your voices heard directly to the payment providers: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MNAdVCogC14dinW4OCnzNX1JkhJdTmUIStzvSROChjo/...
EDIT 6: Some email addresses you might be able to send your complaints to: askvisa@visa.com and askmastercard@mastercard.com
EDIT 7: Animus Non Grata was removed from Steam from violating the new payment processor rules. (Update: 13.08.2025: The game has been unbanned since then, after a thorough review of its content by staff)
EDIT 8: You can file a complaint about Collective Shout. Info: https://bsky.app/profile/jennystrath.bsky.social/post/3luqywyfj3s2h
EDIT 9: You might be able to file complaints directly to the Better Business Bureau. More info: https://bsky.app/profile/tendermiasma.com/post/3lutjngxqm226
EDIT 10: If you are a developer, you can submit your game here for added visibility: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsSOxp6ILVlIh8iYC-AvD4qpikevALSDaPGAd3...
EDIT 11: Another list with actions, but PLEASE BE POLITE if you contact customer supports of any of the involves companies. Do not yell on the phone or be rude. Try to put some humor into the calls, the customer support persons are having a bad weekend: https://10kphonecalls.com/
EDIT 12: The new content guide for adult games on itch.io are (at the time of writing): (source: https://itch.io/docs/creators/faq#is-adult-content-allowed )
The following is a non-exhaustive list of prohibited themes present in card processing networks. We are unable to support the sale of any works containing these topics:
EDIT 13: I had to remove my games for violating the new content guidelines. More info: https://itch.io/blog/995270/itch-ios-new-policy-guidelines
EDIT 14: Another complilation website that explains the issue and has links: https://stop-paypros.neocities.org/
EDIT 15: A youtube video explaining the censorship at the root of this: https://youtu.be/SmHHnPLllUk?
EDIT 16: I've had to pull all my games from itch for violating the new rules, or risk a ban without warning, with no second chances.
EDIT 17: UK users can no longer access any adult content on itch: https://itch.io/t/5133739/our-update-on-the-uk-online-safety-act
EDIT 18: UKIE gives a statement "We believe payment providers and platforms alike should have confidence in trusted age rating systems": https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ukie-responds-to-adult-games-being-pulled-from-ste...
EDIT 19: The guardian covers the topic: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/29/mastercard-visa-backlash-adult-gam...
EDIT 20: Steam's new policy bans "Certain kinds of adult only content." without elaborating: https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/gettingstarted/onboarding?language=english#5
EDIT 21: Itch updates their nsfw statement with an addendum FAQ: https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content#addendum-faq
EDIT 22: Verge covers the topic: https://www.theverge.com/games/715299/itchio-games-delisting-payment-processor-p...
EDIT 23: CBC covers the topic: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/steam-itch-takedowns-credit-cards-1.7597563
EDIT 24: Itch re-indexes free nsfw games: https://itch.io/t/5149036/reindexing-adult-nsfw-content
EDIT 25: Valve gives a rare response: https://kotaku.com/mastercard-denies-pressuring-steam-to-censor-nsfw-games-20006...
EDIT 26: TechCrunch covers the story: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/03/mastercard-denies-pressuring-game-platforms-va...
EDIT 27: PinkNews covers it: https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/08/04/visa-mastercard-adult-purchases/#
EDIT 28: 404 Media discusses 30 years of censorship: https://www.404media.co/steam-itchio-collective-shout-nsfw-games-campaign/?ref=d...
EDIT 29: Polygon writes another article: https://www.polygon.com/visa-mastercard-steam-censorship-valve-itchio-gta/
EDIT 30: Gamespot article: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/itch-and-steams-new-policies-reflect-a-larger-...
EDIT 31: Rockpapershotgun covers it: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/how-payment-networks-control-the-definition-of-...
EDIT 32: Riot games controversy for not tolerating talk bad about mastercard in the chat: https://www.si.com/esports/news/riot-games-blocking-mastercard-discourse-in-vct-...
EDIT 33: The Gamer covers project2025: https://www.thegamer.com/steams-adult-content-ban-has-been-plotted-for-a-year/?u...
EDIT 34: More on project2025: https://gizmodo.com/gop-senator-introduces-bill-to-make-all-porn-a-federal-crime...
EDIT 35: Another video summarizing the past 2-3 weeks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUMwQ1euK8Y
EDIT 36: Valve confirms that Paypal's banking partner(s) are behind the removal of Paypal as a payment option from many countries, due to NSFW content on Steam: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nsfw-content-row-continues-as-valve-confirms-paypa...
EDIT 37: Tom's Hardware covers the paypal issue that expands beyond video games: https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/steam-games-no-longer-purchas...
EDIT 38: NexusMods is forced to implement age-verification: https://www.thegamer.com/nexus-mods-uk-online-safety-act-id-verification-adult-c...
EDIT 39: Opinion piece on the culture wars against video games: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/opinion-a-return-to-the-culture-wars
EDIT 40: Age verification law shuts down bluesky in some states: https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/bluesky-age-verification-law/
EDIT 41: Some users have had their paypal terminated for buying adult games on itch: https://itch.io/blog/1016987/heads-up-some-paypal-accounts-are-being-terminated-...
EDIT 42: Discord adds age verification: https://discord.com/safety/adapting-discord-for-the-uk-online-safety-act
EDIT 43: Itch begins geo-blocking content for people in the UK: https://bsky.app/profile/traexecutive.bsky.social/post/3lxbulk7kuu26
EDIT 44: The Gamer covers the geo-blocking topic: https://www.thegamer.com/itch-io-censorship-adult-games-author-developer-pages-b...
EDIT 45: Another creator has their Paypal account terminated (after 5 years of using it without issues): https://x.com/Miilkywayz/status/1960607816475140277?t=0KAD2ONGOqdf4RzgMjmucA&s=1...
EDIT 46: Steam requires UK users to verify their age: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/steam-now-requires-age-verification-in-...
EDIT 47: Valve restricts adult games from using the Early Access model: https://bsky.app/profile/acvalens.net/post/3lxozkbfj4c26 original post on x: https://x.com/galewindg/status/1961949585254826238?s=46
EDIT 48: People have their Paypal accounts terminated from buying adult e-books: https://www.reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceUK/comments/1n415qr/my_paypl_account_has_bee...
EDIT 49: Itch is not paying developers their share in a timely manner, keeping their money for months: https://itch.io/t/5000297/important-payout-or-tax-related-issues-post-support-ti...
EDIT 50: The gamer writes an article, quoting the explicit goal to ban games regardless if they are legal or not: https://www.thegamer.com/collective-shout-details-it-seeks-removal-of-games-whet...
EDIT 51: Polygon writes an updated article: https://www.polygon.com/steam-visa-mastercard-paypal-censorship-project-2025-ear...
EDIT 52: Youtube piece on "Reactionary Gamers Learn the HARD Way that Fascism is Ruining Gaming" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dzVF6x2XWoU
EDIT 53: Youtube piece on "The Online Safety Act Finally Hit Steam. It's Bad." https://youtu.be/hOaGUfy6NTw?feature=shared
EDIT 54: Youtube piece on "Visa DESTROYS The Gaming Industry To Take Control, ADMITS They Want To Be A "Leader In Gaming"" https://youtu.be/RYQICZ1-dZY?feature=shared
EDIT 55: Petitions to sign:
AU https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN7799
UK https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/734441
CA https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6695
EDIT 56: Paypal was already strictly against adult content in 2016, and did not allow Patreon to use Paypal. They were strong-arming platforms already then, but Patreon managed to convince them to allow payments: https://nsfw.beehiiv.com/p/for-nsfw-creators-patreon-consistently-demonstrated-a...
EDIT 57: Youtube piece on "It Gets Worse.. VISA Threatens to Censor Everything at the Source" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr5fgjvrZso&pp=0gcJCRsBo7VqN5tD
EDIT 58: Youtube guide how to fight censorship on Steam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=XTVE22tIXfA
EDIT 59: Censorship continues: "All adult content merchants are required to pay a 1450$ "High Risk Registration" fee on PaymentCloud": https://www.darkchibishadow.com/post/dear-adult-creatives-paykings-won-t-accept-... ,
Works considered "High Risk":
EDIT 60: Dragon Ball Z pulled from shelves after Texas anime ban: https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/anime-fans-express-concerns-over-i...
EDIT 61: GOG speaks up about game preservation and censorship: https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/earning-the-trust-of-major-japanese-de...
EDIT 62: IGN covers the topic again: https://nordic.ign.com/steam-deck/98750/news/steam-censorship-of-adult-games-hig...
EDIT 63: The gamer covers the petitions: https://www.thegamer.com/government-petitions-launched-in-fight-against-payment-...
EDIT 64: A total porn ban is proposed by Michigan Lawmakers: https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/total-porn-ban-proposed-michigan-lawmakers
EDIT 65: Mandatory age-verification could soon apply to Youtube, TikTok and other sites: https://www.theverge.com/news/778177/ny-safe-act-online-age-verification-social-...
EDIT 66: The thing we knew would happen has happened, people's scanned age verification photos (gov. ID) has leaked in a discord hack: https://www.theverge.com/news/792032/discord-customer-service-data-breach-hack?u...
EDIT 67: Wisconsin wants to ban VPNs: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/wisconsin-wants-to-force-all-...
EDIT 68: Yet another Patreon account for a game developer was banned: https://shame.games/blogs/trap-quet-release-15-version-52---shame-games-in-crisi...
EDIT 69: Escalation on porn ban targeting BDSM (choking would be made just as illegal and punishable as CP): Ban on porn keeps escalating: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyk3qzq7k7o