Censorship! Itch.io and Steam Removing Adult Otome Games, Who’s to Blame?
Lately, it’s been tough watching so many platforms shift their stance on adult games, BL, otome titles, and visual novels. Fans like me are left wondering what this means for the communities we love. Behind the scenes, it’s often credit card companies like Visa and Mastercard pulling the strings, pressuring platforms to restrict content they find controversial, usually under pressure from outside social or political groups.
That kind of power has real consequences. It risks stifling creative freedom and shutting down niche markets that have always thrived on bold, unconventional stories. These changes raise bigger questions too, about autonomy, corporate responsibility, and the rights of adults to choose the media they engage with.
In this Article
Censorship Trends in Adult Gaming
Lately, it feels like adult game developers are getting squeezed from all sides. Platforms like itch.io have started tightening their content rules, and creators are being forced to either tone things down or risk getting kicked off entirely. Groups like Collective Shout seem to be behind some of the pressure, pushing for stricter limits on anything with sexual themes. While platforms say it’s about “community values,” it’s usually the smaller indie devs who take the hit.
Players are starting to worry too. Once a platform decides a certain theme is “inappropriate,” what’s stopping them from going after other stories next? We’ve already seen bans extend to games set in schools, even when they’re totally SFW. In places like Germany, things have gotten so restrictive that some platforms can’t even be accessed without a VPN.
And this isn’t just happening in one region. Developers and fans around the world are running into the same roadblocks. Between cultural taboos, conservative campaigns, and big corporations playing it safe, adult games are being pushed out of the spaces where they used to thrive. For a lot of devs, especially those who relied on platforms like Steam or itch.io, it’s becoming harder to know where their work still belongs.
How are Otome Games Affected
Otome game creators are really feeling the weight of these new content crackdowns. Whether their stories are spicy or entirely safe for work, many are getting flagged, shadowbanned, or even taken down. It’s disheartening to see thoughtful romance games that explore love, emotion, and identity vanish without warning, even when they follow the rules. Especially LGBTQ games seem to fall victim to this censorship, like those in the BL genre
For indie devs, most of whom fund their projects with personal savings and a lot of heart, losing a platform like itch.io can mean losing everything. No income, no visibility, and no way to share their work with the fans who care. And for players, that means fewer games that take risks, dive deep, or represent voices that mainstream media often ignores.
What hurts even more is the assumption that mature otome games are somehow dangerous. These creators usually go out of their way to add content warnings and protective features. Their goal isn’t to shock. It’s to tell honest, emotional stories for grown-up audiences. But if any hint of adult content gets treated as a threat, we risk pushing these creators out altogether and losing the very stories that made this genre feel so alive.
The Disasterous Power of Payment Processing Companies
A lot of what’s happening right now boils down to credit card companies. Visa and MasterCard basically run the show, and if they decide they don’t want adult content on a platform, that platform is forced to choose between censorship or financial disaster. It’s frustrating how much control just a couple of companies have over what creators can share and what players can access.
Some devs and fans are trying to work around it, suggesting adopting new distribution channels like JAST. There’s even been discussion about crypto, but let’s be real, most people don’t want to jump through hoops just to buy a game. Without easy payment options, a lot of creators end up losing income fast.
People are tossing out ideas like moving to adult-friendly sites, using donation models, or backing up content for safekeeping. But even those alternatives come with risks. Nothing feels stable right now. That’s why more and more players are rushing to download their favorite games before they disappear, hoping this pressure will eventually lead to better solutions.
The Role of External Advocacy Groups
The question is, why now? Why all is this happening all of a sudden. Well, we have Collective Shout and similar groups to thank, for pressuring credit card companies to cut ties with creators of adult games. These groups treat any sexual content, even completely fictional, as dangerous, and their campaigns often bypass public discussion entirely. Instead, they target payment processors behind the scenes, leaving creators blindsided and platforms scrambling.
For adult content creators, it’s devastating. One day you’re fine; the next, your game is pulled, your income is gone, and your audience is locked out with no explanation. It’s not just about money. It’s about creative freedom and the right to tell stories that explore intimacy, identity, and sexuality in thoughtful ways.
What’s worse is that this kind of censorship doesn’t actually protect anyone. When adult content is forced underground, it loses proper age checks and context. In trying to shield minors, these crackdowns might be creating more risk, not less. And in the process, they silence meaningful conversations and hurt the people working hard to tell honest, complex stories.
Who are Colletive Shout?
Collective Shout calls itself a feminist group, but their actions say otherwise. Based in Australia, they’ve built a reputation for targeting anything they label as “sexually exploitative,” including adult video games. In reality, their campaigns have led to payment processors like Visa and MasterCard cutting off support for hundreds of games, forcing creators off platforms like Steam and itch.io.
While they claim to stand up for women and girls, Collective Shout has a long history of aligning with conservative and religious groups that push anti-LGBTQ views and support censorship. They’ve been backed by right-wing politicians and have no problem silencing creators if it fits their narrow moral agenda.
What’s worse is how they operate, working behind the scenes to pressure credit card companies instead of engaging with the public. That’s not activism. That’s coercion. And it’s hurting indie devs, erasing adult content, and punishing players who just want thoughtful, age-gated stories.
Plenty of people have called it out. They say they’re helping women, but they’re really just controlling what grown adults are allowed to make or enjoy.
Unity and Community Support Efforts
More fans are starting to push back by calling Visa and MasterCard directly to voice their frustration. The goal is simple: match the pressure coming from groups that want adult content banned. Social media campaigns are encouraging gamers and devs to speak up with polite but firm messages, asking these companies to rethink their stance.
Petitions are also making the rounds on sites like Change.org, arguing that adult content is already labeled and age-restricted, and that pulling it down amounts to censorship. These efforts are not about promoting harmful content. They are about protecting the right to create and enjoy stories for adults.
Adults should be able to choose the stories they want to experience. What’s happening now isn’t about safety. It’s about control. Groups like Collective Shout are pushing their narrow views onto everyone else, and creators, especially indie and queer voices, are paying the price.
This fight isn’t just about games. It’s about creative freedom, the right to make bold, emotional, even messy art. And if we want those stories to stick around, we need to speak up. Sign petitions. Support devs. Share what’s happening. Because if we stay quiet, these stories could disappear, and they deserve better.
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