Here’s the latest on the ongoing situation with adult-themed content on Itch.io. Several free, mature-rated games, previously removed during a large-scale takedown of NSFW projects due to payment processing concerns, have been reinstated. However, Itch.io is still determining the best way to bring back paid adult games that were also affected, working to ensure payment companies don’t restrict purchases on the platform.
Adding another layer, Stripe, one of the companies that prompted the initial content removal, has stated that they are also facing pressure from their banking partners (though the specific banks remain unnamed). While Stripe has expressed a future desire “to support adult content,” Itch.io is actively exploring alternative payment processors who are more open to handling this type of material.
Leaf Corcoran, owner of Itch.io, detailed the return of free NSFW projects to search results, browse pages, and recommendations in a recent announcement.
To have a game re-indexed, developers must select the “no payments” option within the “pricing” section of their project’s edit page. Corcoran notes that this will make any previously priced individual files on that game free as well, since Itch.io doesn’t currently offer “owners only” content on pages designated as entirely free. The Itch.io team is considering adding new developer dashboard features to address this limitation in the future.
Regarding the return of paid games, Corcoran explained, “We are still in ongoing discussions with payment processors and will be re-introducing paid content slowly to ensure we can confidently support the widest range of creators in the long term.”
According to Corcoran, recent conversations with Stripe, a major financial technology corporation valued at $91 billion, have been somewhat encouraging. However, Stripe has communicated that they can’t currently process payments for any “content designed for sexual gratification,” a broad categorization that highlights the difficulty in defining the specific adult content payment processors find objectionable. Stripe relayed the following information to Itch.io users:
Stripe is currently unable to support sexually explicit content due to restrictions placed on them by their banking partners, despite card networks generally supporting adult content (with the appropriate registrations). Stripe has indicated that they hope to be able to support adult content in the future.
Itch.io continues its search for alternative partners to manage payments for “adult NSFW content,” which Corcoran defines as:
pages that have both the “Contains sensitive material” option checked and a tag suggesting adult content (e.g., “porn,” “mature,” “lewd,” “erotic,” “hentai,” “fetish”).
Regarding the initial removal of paid games, Corcoran stated, “now that we have a more specific definition of what Stripe won’t process, we may review that initial list for potential re-introduction,” but emphasized that the primary strategy remains “to implement one or more new processors to avoid putting the platform at risk.”
Itch.io isn’t alone in modifying its content policies. Valve has also updated Steam’s guidelines, granting payment processors, banks, and internet service providers increased control over defining unacceptable adult material. This has led to the delisting of some games, though fewer than on Itch.io. Further information on this and the advocacy group claiming responsibility for the changes can be found here.
An economic analysis of the financial dynamics driving this situation is underway, with further updates expected next week. In the meantime, consider exploring practical information on safe sex with Emma Kidwell’s Well This Is Awkward, featured above.