tl;dr
Collective Shout launched a campaign urging payment processors Mastercard, PayPal, and Visa to pressure gaming platforms like Steam and Itch.io to remove games depicting rape, incest, and child sexual abuse. This led to broad delisting of many adult games, including those without such content, spark...
Collective Shout recently issued an open letter targeting payment processors Mastercard, PayPal, and Visa to pressure gaming storefronts into removing titles depicting rape, incest, and child sexual abuse. This campaign led platforms like Steam and Itch.io to broadly delist or restrict “adult” games, many of which did not contain those controversial themes, sparking significant backlash from gamers. Some argued that adopting cryptocurrency payments might offer an alternative for creators marginalized by traditional payment systems.
In response, Collective Shout indicated it may also target crypto payment processors connected to such games in the future. The group spotlighted a particularly graphic game called No Mercy and shared evidence relating to other titles involving sexual violence and incest. Consequently, Itch.io deindexed all adult content pending review, with Steam removing unrelated titles as well. Developer Claire Houck criticized these measures, pointing out that some censored games contained LGBTQ themes rather than explicit content, raising concerns of broader censorship beyond the original focus.
Collective Shout clarified it only sought removal of games featuring rape and incest, not all adult content, and both storefronts suggested games might be relisted after review. Despite this, Collective Shout co-founder Melinda Tankard Reist celebrated the removals, sparking a counter-petition gaining over 180,000 supporters who fear that banning adult games disproportionately affects LGBTQ communities. Experts argue that while society tolerates violent content like gun violence in games, queer intimacy and kink are often unfairly censored, erasing safe spaces that many find online.
The campaign against payment processors followed months of earlier pressure directly on storefronts that went largely unheeded. Industry voices highlight the risks of centralized platforms relying on traditional payment rails that can be influenced by external advocacy groups. Anthony Palma from Mysten Labs pointed out that crypto-based payment systems offer a way for developers to bypass centralized payment processors, citing games like Booby Bot, which enable wagering using stablecoin USDC without traditional intermediaries.
However, crypto payments are not always fully decentralized, as many services still depend on centralized exchanges or platforms that comply with regulatory freezes. Collective Shout acknowledged its team has only briefly considered targeting crypto payment processors but may reconsider. This scenario echoes prior instances where payment giants pressured platforms to remove adult content, such as OnlyFans’ 2021 temporary ban and Mastercard and Visa blocking PornHub transactions after lobbying campaigns.
Critics suggest that these censorship efforts are driven more by shame than safety and may harm mental health by isolating marginalized communities. Licensed therapist Moraya Seeger DeGeare emphasized that censoring queer and fetish content deepens loneliness rather than protects anyone, urging instead for better education as a protective measure. She noted that real-world violence requires focus, but erasing communities online fails those seeking connection and healing.