The point is - in my opinion - What else can be done?
- We have NO official proof of what Visa/Mastercard have really said, apart from what Itch.io and VALVE revealed.
- It could be worse/better(unlikely) than this. If a communication scared Gabe - we're done for.
- It's disheartening to see a platform like Itch.io and Steam crumble overnight like this, overnight.
I'm honestly worried, on a personal level.
I may not be a "famous" influential person but, I'm questioning what I poured the efforts of a lifetime on, if events like this could just invalidate any sort of expression.
OK, I get it that "theoretically" this is not entirely over yet. Stress on YET.
YET - it does set a precedent. When you frame this event in the worldwide scenario, it is grim - to my eyes.
Sure, we could still "go NINTENDO" and family friendly but - at what cost?
It took relatively little pressure for such a worldwide limitation to settle in.
I'm scared. Those activists are not going to stop.
And the worst part is - what could VISA/Mastercard possibly say at this point? They're in Public Relation checkmate. Silence is their best option.
This does not hit only the gaming industry - books, any sort of content is now regulated. It happened. Some devs are suddenly seeing their incomes die overnight.
This is scary.