Itch.io has started stripping NSFW games from public view, cutting off search access and sparking backlash from indie creators. The shift follows mounting pressure from credit card and payment providers demanding tighter control over adult content.
NSFW games disappear with no warning
Developers logged in this week to find their NSFW games gone from search and browse tabs. These titles aren’t fully deleted, but users can only find them through direct links. For some, this may be the beginning of a permanent removal process.
Itch.io made the change without advance notice. Instead, it published a vague update after the fact, confirming an audit is in progress.
Twitch is requesting streamers to use more accurate tags by adding new classifications for adult contents.
Payment processors drive the takedown
Credit card networks and payment companies flagged some of Itch.io’s adult content as unacceptable. To keep payments running for the rest of the platform, Itch.io chose to cut visibility on NSFW games instead of risking a total payment shutdown.
Steam faced a similar squeeze recently. That led to mass removals of adult games that included taboo themes like incest or sexual violence. Itch.io’s response now echoes that same pressure.
Adult creators feel the fallout
Many creators depend on NSFW games to make rent. When visibility drops, so does income. Some received vague emails hinting at future removals, but most were left guessing.
The silence stung more than the change itself. Without warning, developers saw their games vanish from discovery pages and their traffic dried up.
What developers need to know
Itch.io now plans to enforce tighter controls on adult content. Some games may survive the audit, but others will disappear completely.
Here’s what to expect:
- Games hidden from search still work through direct links
- New uploads may face stricter compliance checks
- Payment access might vanish if flagged content remains
- Certain tags could trigger automatic reviews
A quiet purge with loud consequences
Itch.io built its reputation on creative freedom, especially for adult games. But the companies behind the payment rails now shape that freedom. Whether this move keeps the site alive or chips away at its soul remains to be seen.
The purge may be quiet, but it cuts deep.
