otomechoice

[otomechoice]

Steam, Itch.io and the banning of explicit and LGBT+ Content. What can we do?

[All images in this post have alt/id text if you need it or want to copy paste anything]

With no warning, Itch.io, a site where many host their indie games, comics, books and more, has started purging and shadowbanning explicit and LGBT+ works. Creators got no warning. And if they were still owed payouts from these works, Itch.io is saying they won't give them their money as they 'broke the rules'. Rules that were only just set in place, with no warning, and therefore no way for creators to try and draw out their money or delete these 'offending' works before they got banned under the new rules.

So Itch.io has been the most recent to fall to the demands of a group that's been contacting Visa and Mastercard and convincing them to threaten sites/businesses with 'stop selling what we consider to be explicit content on your sites of we'll stop allowing your site to have transactions with Visa and Mastercard'. Steam folded, and now Itchio has too. And a reminder earlier this year Gumroad also stopped allowing explicit content, further back than that Patreon banned some kinks and fetishes even if it's depicted in fiction not real life, and I don't have to explain to you guys the great Tumblr explicit content ban of 2018.

And as always remember this doesn't stop with sexually explicit work as LGBT+ stories and people are often labelled as explicit and already we're seeing works being taken off Itch.io that are about LGBT+ and especially trans stories. Other non-sexually explicit works I've seen already getting shadowbanned, delisted or deleted are SFW games featuring furries/anthros, SFW dress up games (because when you take the clothes the model is nude), and the aforementioned SFW games that include LGBT+ characters and stories.

I'm compiling here information I've seen around various social medias, mostly Bluesky, because I haven't seen all these things shared over here.

I don't personally have explicit content on itch, but I had been considering one day selling things on there and I do currently have explicit content on my Patreon, my main source of income, and am terrified that Patreon is going to fold next (if anyone knows alterative for hosting audio content behind a paid subscription service please let me know so I can start maybe making a back-up in case the worst happens). Because for me personally if Patreon goes next, it's not like I can go out and easily get another job. Not only because in general finding and getting a job is difficult enough, but I'm autistic and have chronic pain and have been constantly getting sick or new pains over the last few years and don't feel safe being trans in the UK right now and all of that combined rules me out of a lot of jobs and makes me feel unsafe to apply to any. I'm so grateful I've been able to make a community around my work, but if Patreon caves next and I just leave my SFW posts on Patreon... 10% of my Patreons are signed up to the SFW tier, 90% are signed up to the explicit tier... I know if Patreon caves I will go from someone living comfortably who's searching to move out of my parents so I can live in a safer environment to someone who can no longer even afford the rent I pay to my parents. I'll try and get an alterative found and set up in case that happens and I can only hope you guys will follow me to whatever other site I have to set up... but it feels unlikely that people will get a whole new account on a whole new payment provider just to support me on a website they might never have heard of...

But what can we do right now?

A petition you can sign (international but you do have to give your name, email, and postal/zip code):

Get calling:

Mastercard (US): 1-800-627-8372

MasterCard (UK): 0800 964 767

Mastercard (International.): +1-636-722-7111

Visa (US + Can): 1 800 847 2911 / 1-800-VISA-911

Visa (AUS): 1 800 125 440

Visa (UK) : 0800 891 725 or use their international call collect +1 303 967 1096

Visa (International): (call collect - it costs them $): +1-303-967-1096

PayPal (US): 1-888-221-1161

PayPal (UK): 0800 358 7911 from landline, +44 203 901 7000 mobile

PayPal (International): 1-402-935-2050

(numbers gathered from these posts X X X )

Don't know what to say on the phone? Here's a script written by timidtanuki:

Creators have had their work removed off Itch.io with no warning and since it's been removed for 'breaking the rules' (rules that were suddenly in place with no warning) they aren't entitled to get their payouts. Just like other sites such as Youtube and Twitch and Etsy, Itch.io hold onto money from their users in a wallet and then give them payouts. So there is money creators have made, are owed, that Itch.io is not giving to them.

People are recommending that if you still have works on Itch.io to turn down the revenue sharing to 0% so that Itch.io no longer takes a cut or your money if you no longer want to support Itchi.io finically but don't want to remove your works from their platform. X

Other Bluesky posts and calls to action I've seen:

radiantg.bsky.social is asking for anyone on Itch.io who got their game deindexed, removed , or payouts turned off to reach out to them (espeically if you make explicit and/or LGBT+ games) for a piece of journalism about what is happening.

sleepyhart.bsky.social is making a threat of all the games that Itch.io has censored/removed from their site search function. Obviously be aware this will include 18+ only games, games with sexual content and other dark or heavy themes.

thetransfemininereview.com wants you to reach out to them if you're a trans creator on Itch.io who is being affected by this so they can make an accurate report. they say 'authors' in their post and I'm unsure if they also want game devs to reach out.

dropdownbear.bsky.com wants you to reach out if you have purchased things on Itch.io that you can now no longer access because of this ban. they can include them in a report being filed with the Australian Consumer Commission as this may be a violation of Australian Consumer rights. If you are Australian you can no longer access things you purchased of Itch.io you can report directly with this guide.

It's a scary time for adult creators and sex workers. It's a scary time to be trans. Support creators. And if anyone knows of any alternate payment providers that allow explicit work, and/or alternate websites to Itch (and in case things get worse, also give me Patreon alternates please) where people can host, sell and/or offer paid subscriptions to writing, images, videos, audios, games and more please leave them in the replies. And please help share this post, the posts I'm linking too, and any other resources you can find.

[otomechoice]

I can’t believe it’s been almost two years since I started playing Blooming Panic, and I’ve never painted XYX. A crime of some sort I’m sure of it, thankfully I have a good lawyer in my corner if you know what I mean. Here’s to another year of enjoying Bloomic.

[otomechoice]

Oh wait a minute darling ... *sip sounds* ... alright now what was it? /silly

This design does not belong to me. It is designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube, twitch and pateron.

Congrats on the new model!

[otomechoice]

You know, little hero, you're safe here. There's no need for you to be the "strong one".

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.

[otomechoice]

You know Pup, you're not the only one in the house with one-a-them stuffed toys... You know I don't mean 'Rose.

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.

[otomechoice]

Come un pup. If you're gonna be cheeky 'bout it, I won't carry you there at all.

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.

[otomechoice]

Dearest, I cannot belive that you found a dine-in bakery nearby that operates in the late hours of the evening!

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.

[otomechoice]

"I may not be going to bed at the moment, but that will not stop me from staying with you until you fall asleep"

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.

[otomechoice]

Those fools continue to supply me with all of the material I may need to make them [in text] squirm in my comment section.

This Vtube design does not belong to me. It is designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube, twitch, and pateron.

[otomechoice]

Oh? You're fond of older vampires living in rural Germany? Oh we're going to get along great my dear...

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.

[otomechoice]

I know I haven't, been the most pleasant towards you. I'm, hopefully, going to do better; no matter how difficult you make it.

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.

[otomechoice]

Let's find you a smoother stone, so you don't accidentally cut your finger.

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.

[otomechoice]

Thank you my lovelies...

This design does not belong to me. This vtuber model was designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube, twitch, and pateron.

[otomechoice]

You know what I always say Petal, "You can never trust someone who doesn't have a favorite sesame street character".

[otomechoice]

Being around you makes my heart sing little Pearl, do you know why that is?

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.

[otomechoice]

Don't tell me my loyal knight is scared of waltzing through the royal throne room in the dark?

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.

[otomechoice]

Master, it would be my pleasure to see to it that you are well attended to tonight. You know how you get when you're working.

This character does not belong to me. He is written and designed by the lovely @dervampireprince and you can listen to his lovely voice on youtube and pateron.