Controversy Over Digital Game Restrictions and Payment Companies' Stance

Itch.io's Reaction

Mastercard Refutes Restrictions While "Collective Shout" Criticizes

Following the recent controversy that arose regarding the imposition of restrictions on games that include adult content in digital stores, which appeared to be a response to pressure from payment processing companies, Mastercard issued a brief statement on Friday to refute these media reports.

The company stated that it "has not evaluated any game or imposed restrictions on any activity on game developer websites and platforms, contrary to what has been circulated in media reports and claims." Mastercard added that it "requires merchants to implement appropriate controls to ensure that Mastercard cards are not used for illegal purchases, including illegal adult content."

This development came following an open letter from "Collective Shout," a child advocacy organization, addressed to executives at PayPal, Mastercard, Visa, and other companies. The letter criticized the allowance of selling games like "No Mercy" and others, which allegedly depict abusive content such as rape, incest, and child sexual assault.

Reactions from Major Gaming Platforms

In the weeks that followed, Steam announced that it would ban games that violate the rules of "payment processors, card networks, and associated banks." Subsequently, Itch.io stated that it "removes adult content games" from its browsing and search sections, while conducting a broader review of its policies.

Valve's Response

Valve's Narrative and Payment Processor Intervention

Although Mastercard's statement appears to deny the premise that payment companies were pressuring game marketplaces, Valve, the owner of the Steam platform, responded with its own statement, which was provided to PC Gamer and other specialized gaming sites.

According to Valve, "Mastercard did not contact Valve directly, despite our request. Mastercard contacted payment processors and acquiring banks. Payment processors relayed this to Valve, and we responded by clarifying Steam's policy in place since 2018 in an attempt to distribute legal games for distribution."

Valve added that its response "was rejected" by payment processors, who cited "risks to the Mastercard brand," and relied on Mastercard's rule against "illegal transactions or those that may harm the brand."

Payment Processors' Reaction

Itch.io Developments and Stripe's Stance

Meanwhile, Itch.io announced that it is "re-indexing free adult content games" while negotiating with payment processors, including Stripe, which stated that it "is unable to support explicit sexual content" due to "banking partners'" requirements.

Itch.io Updates

Conclusion: The controversy surrounding digital game content and payment restrictions remains ongoing, with conflicting statements between processing companies and gaming platforms, underscoring the complexity of regulatory challenges in this growing field.