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submitted 3 weeks ago by tonytins@pawb.social to c/games@lemmy.world
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[-] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 42 points 3 weeks ago

I have zero faith this campaign will stop until we're back in the stone age.

Future headline:

"Game vendors pressured to stop selling games where women are allowed to vote or express an opinion that doesn't reflect her husband's"

[-] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 34 points 3 weeks ago

It starts with porn, and ends with anti-church content. Everything in between must go.

[-] FartMaster69@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 3 weeks ago

Haha, it doesn’t end there it just keeps going.

[-] Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

No violence!

[-] J92@lemmy.world 28 points 3 weeks ago

Sounds like Valve should set up a payment processing system.

[-] pivot_root@lemmy.world 31 points 3 weeks ago

At least in the US, it's full of regulatory red tape that was designed to pull up the ladder behind the current large payment processors.

Even Musk and his ample bribe money, under the most corrupt administration in decades, hasn't managed to get full approval for his "~~X~~ Twitter Money" payment service.

[-] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

Steam can 100% enter any market they want, especially something entirely digital like online payment processing. That's pretty closely related to what they do already. They just have to have a reason to want to do so.

Steam makes a reported $3.5 million per employee from commissions alone. Possibly as much at $19 million per head across the board. To put that into perspective, Facebook, one of the most profitable companies on the planet, averages a net income of $780,000 per employee, and Apple at $476,000 per employee.

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/valves-reported-profit-per-head-from-steam-commissions-is-out-there-and-at-usd3-5-million-per-employee-it-makes-apple-and-facebook-look-like-a-lemonade-stand/

Steam may not be as large as those companies, but they're so effectively streamlined. So much of their profits come from existing systems that only need minimal maintenance as opposed to needing to constantly develop new products. It is a well-oiled money printing machine at this point. And nothing they do is based on any sort of speculation bubble threatening to burst at any point.

[-] Lyra_Lycan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 25 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Clickbait doesn't explain properly - the reason queer games were removed from Itch.io is because (and this is another issue) they were one of many media hosters who labeled anything LGBTQ+ as NSFW. The tag itself gets improperly used but anyway. They were still banning under 18s from learning and experiencing diverse life. Romance ≠ sexuality ≠ identity but some people don't understand that.

[-] tonytins@pawb.social 18 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

While I agree, a lot of these banning campaigns do try to link LGBTQ+ as NSFW to justify their actions.

[-] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 weeks ago

They understand. They don’t care.

[-] AlphaOmega@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

So they are going to ban Baldurs Gate 3?

[-] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 13 points 3 weeks ago

100% they would try to ban anything with any sort of romance in it if they could.

Collective Shout is a group of anti-porn nutjobs hiding behind a feminist facade.

Surprisingly, not American, the Australians decided to join the puritanical bullshit this time.

[-] afansfw@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 3 weeks ago

18+ might be a legislative requirement in some countries too, for example Russia required it since 2013, not sure if there are more countries that have the same law, but I’m sure Russia isn’t alone in their backward ways.

[-] SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I keep people repeating this, but where are you getting this information from? I've never seen this claim before, and I've not noticed this happening when I've used itch in the past either?

I've noticed a ton of accusations of itch doing seemingly a bad thing after another, and so far all of those claims have turned out wrong. Please give a source at least!

[-] ms_lane@lemmy.world 19 points 3 weeks ago

A few days ago there were many here saying the idea of a slippery slope to banning LGBTQ+ games was nonsensical.

Yet, here we are.

[-] Eezyville@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago

It always starts with "Protect the children!!"

[-] h3rmit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago

If you read the article, it does not say there has been a second wave or something targetting LGTBQ+ games. It is one person saying their comic was SFW and was delisted.

We should definitely fight back regardless, don't get me wrong, but as of yet there has not been LGBTQ+ targetting.

The author of the SFW comic should contact itchio and ask why their game was deindexed, since itch did MASSIVE removal of all "adult" and NSFW content beyond what their payment processors asked, as to evade any issue and then reindex according to them.

Again, we should be alert, and we should monitor their firther actions closely, but it's not time yet to cry wolf with the LGBTQ+ targetting.

[-] GiuseppeAndTheYeti@midwest.social 9 points 3 weeks ago

Anyone got one of them antitrust lawsuits?

[-] BlackLaZoR@fedia.io 9 points 3 weeks ago

If these were EU corporations, they'd be sued into oblivion by consumer protection agencies

[-] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

GoG is European right? They'll probably try to go after them too.

And if not, GoG may become the main haven for non-approved content.

[-] lath@piefed.social 8 points 3 weeks ago

Depends. The Polish government has its share of religious nuts. If they get courted on this, Gog may end up forced to comply.

[-] BlackLaZoR@fedia.io 1 points 3 weeks ago

The thing about EU is that each state enforces their rules individually. Visa/MasterCard would face lawsuits and fines in each state independently. Not a healthy environment for running an abusive duopoly

[-] lostoncalantha@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

There’s a reason why Christ was crucified and it wasn’t for your sins. Christianity is a cult. Time to enter the 21st century people. Even the ancient Romans knew this.

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Oh, I have some pretty advanced sins

[-] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Can I subscribe for advanced sin stories

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Once I put a hat on a goat

[-] REDACTED@infosec.pub 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Uhh, I don't think ancient roman is a good example, unless barbarism, constant expansionism, slavery and patriarchy is your thing, and I'm skipping over a lot of other fucked up shit like forced sex based on status quo. While their culture was indeed rich, they were far from being an example country.

EDIT: Even carthage, the country rome destroyed, would be a better example.

[-] pinheadednightmare@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

If I can’t have my lgbtq+ and nsfw games, then I don’t need my non-lgbtq+ and nsfw games. Go ahead and play this game and fuck around and find out. I’ll sell all of my consoles real quick. Fuck this mess.

[-] FerretyFever0@fedia.io 5 points 3 weeks ago

My fucking god. You may or not believe me, but for the past 7 months, I've been almost completely unaffected by everything going on. I'm extremely lucky in that sense. This is the first thing that has gotten close to fucking with my life. I guess that I knew something was going to happen that would affect me. It didn't feel like something that would actually affect me. True, this is still mostly a minor inconvenience, but it's going to expand to include every M rated or slightly creative or provocative title. We are so fucked. My god.

[-] pupbiru@aussie.zone 15 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

is banning porn games on the same level?

no… not even a little, but i think it’s pertinent… these groups keep pushing harder and harder and it won’t stop. it’ll eventually reach you as a person; not just your interests

[-] Lyra_Lycan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I'm right with you there - freedom of expression is fundamental, I feel, and freedom of autonomy is not only a privilege to us as conscious, self-aware beings, but also a constant. Imagine a couple billion international people being told they can't have nice things or freedom by a thousand extremely conservative people from one country. This whole thing is a joke, but if it's any consolation the people will always fight back. We will always find a way to reject the doctrine of some buffoons. Chances are some people are already compiling a catalogue of every game removed from Steam in order for them to be available. The most low-effort controversial titles may not be much of a loss, but everything following them will be.

[-] FerretyFever0@fedia.io 1 points 3 weeks ago

I think some people are already compiling lists on Bluesky. Maybe it's time for a new Steam competitor? One that isn't going to take the art of creators off for "controversial" content. The Itch.io CEO (which I first heard about 2 days ago) said that they're looking for more cooperative payment processors, so they might be bringing stuff back? No idea, I can hope though.

[-] REDACTED@infosec.pub 2 points 2 weeks ago

Apparently payment processor. Singular. Stripe. Visa/MS never changed it's policy and still allows NSFW content, they're not even a payment processor. It feels a bit bonkers now that internet bombed them when they weren't even involved with this mess and it was just Stripe. On the bright side, itch.io already announced they're ditching them and are in talks with other payment processors.

[-] derin@lemmy.beru.co 1 points 2 weeks ago

Can you post a source for this?

[-] REDACTED@infosec.pub 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

https://itch.io/t/5149036/reindexing-adult-nsfw-content

https://support.stripe.com/questions/prohibited-and-restricted-businesses-list-faqs

https://www.thegamer.com/steam-gaming-industry-visa-payment-processors-adult-games-banned/ (scroll down to Visa's statement)

Another side note - If it was Visa/MS themselves, they could not switch to other payment processor as all card payment processors work with visa/ms.

Steam is awfully silent, but that's pretty normal of Gabe, transparency has never really been the strong side for Valve. Then again, steam never mentioned Visa/MS. In fact, they never mentioned any company names, only itch dared to do that, but seeing as both got hit at the same time, you don't need to be a genius to figure out steam has likely the same problem as itch.io

UPDATE: Valve finally responded. MS now clearly looks complicit in this. There is some serious chain of blame game going, the whole thing seems rotten. What's seriously worrysome about this is rule 5.12.7 mentions mutilation of a person or body parts, which would potentially also put many shooter games under the ban.

https://kotaku.com/mastercard-denies-pressuring-steam-to-censor-nsfw-games-2000614393

[-] RobotZap10000@feddit.nl 2 points 3 weeks ago

Somehow, they're forgetting that sex sells like hot cakes. They're also not passing up the opportunity to marginalize minorities even further!

[-] nibble4bits@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago

I don't choose a payment processor over their morality standards. I choose how to spend my own money, not them. They shouldn't have a say in that matter.

[-] Adalast@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Time to start lobbying governments. EU/USA legislation stating that outside of legal violations, a payment processor is not allowed to refuse a legitimate legal transaction.

[-] bacon_pdp@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Well if we wanted to pressure payment processors. We need only stop using them for about a month. Just use only cash.

[-] remon@ani.social 1 points 3 weeks ago

Most websites don't take cash, though.

this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2025
126 points (97.7% liked)

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