For about a week, the world of video games has been shaken by a very controversial eventwho lit a strong debate on the net and raised many concerns. Two of the largest platforms for the distribution of titles, Steam And Itch.ioremoved many from their catalogs Games for adults After having undergone pressure from large credit cards, in particular Visa And MasterCard.
This crusade against i content “inappropriate”It was unleashed by an Australian group called Collective Shoutwhich in April sent an open letter to the payment circuits in which he accused Steam to benefit from “rape, incest and abuse of minors”. The letter pointed the finger in particular against the game No Mercyin which the players had the opportunity to attack women at will. This title, however, had been removed from the Valve platform already before sending the letter, precisely because of the presence of these issues. Collective ShoutFurthermore, it also targeted products that do not contain pornographic elements, such as the famous Detroit: Become Human.
On social networks, the debate has obviously exploded and many have lined up against the pressures exerted by the payment circuits, not so much for the removal of the titles for adults, but because these could open the way to future censorship. This time it was up to the “inappropriate content”, but tomorrow, even titles considered too violent or with uncomfortable themes. As reported by SpaceogamesNaomi Clark of Nyu Game Center showed that among the games removed from Itch.io There are also those of emerging creators who have told their experiences with illegal relationships or trauma. And already initiatives such as boycott, petitions and requests to credit cards have already appeared to end what has been defined as a “moral panic“.
In such situations, unfortunately, to suffer First of all They are the artists and their creativity, as well as the desire to tell more and more profound and touching stories. An element, this, which has now established itself in the world of video games, although for many they still deal with “Shoot-Spara” without a real purpose.
And secondly, users are also suffering, given that in the chaos of forced moralization are also targeted products that have little to do with the original target, depriving enthusiasts of the possibility of living magnificent stories that the industry is able to produce (just see Baldur’s Gate 3, Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, to the Moon and many others) and who, over the years, always remain in the heart.