UKIE Urges Payment Processors to Trust Reliable Age Rating Systems Following Removal of Adult Games from Steam and Itch.io

UKIE Responds to Removal of Adult Games on Steam and Itch.io

UKIE, the trade association representing the video game industry in the United Kingdom, has issued a statement concerning the recent removal of adult games from popular gaming platforms Steam and Itch.io. This action follows increasing pressure from payment processing partners on these companies regarding their adult content policies.

Withdrawal of Adult Content

Last week, Itch.io announced it has “deindexed“all adult and NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content from its platform. This decision came in response to pressure from payment processors and the advocacy group Collective Shout. Similarly, Valve’s Steam platform has removed several adult games this month, reflecting a trend towards stricter content regulations.

UKIE’s Standpoint

In its communication with GamesIndustry. Biz, UKIE urged payment processors such as PayPal to trust established age rating systems like PEGI (Pan European Game Information).The organization emphasized the importance of these systems for ensuring safe and responsible access to content.

“The UK games industry champions creative freedom while taking its responsibilities to players seriously. Clear and consistent age ratings are a crucial part of helping people make informed choices about the content they engage with. That’s why UKIE strongly supports the use of robust classification systems like PEGI across all platforms, including those hosting adult or experimental content. This ensures that content is labeled appropriately, that younger audiences are protected, and that creators can publish with transparency. We believe payment providers and platforms alike should have confidence in trusted age rating systems and the enforcement mechanisms behind them.”

The Implications for Content Creators

For users not filtering out adult content on Steam, it’s evident how prevalent these titles are among trending games. The extent of the repercussions from payment processing pressures remains uncertain, leading to speculation about the future presence of adult content on both Steam and Itch.io.

Regardless of the outcome, it’s important to note that the internet is abundant with adult content. Gamers seeking these specific genres will likely find alternatives beyond Steam and Itch.io if their favorite platforms discontinue such offerings. Creators of adult games, who previously built audiences on these well-known platforms, face the daunting challenge of re-establishing their presence and connections elsewhere.

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