The Ban on Horses Highlights the Gaming Industry’s Double Standards and Emotional Shortcomings
A significant shift in the political landscape has led to a notable rise in authoritarian practices, making 2025 a particularly troubling year for censorship, especially within the gaming industry. Under immense pressure from payment processors that support platforms like Steam and Itch, countless games—primarily those featuring adult themes and marked as NSFW—were either removed or deindexed from these stores. While the initial uproar surrounding these removals eventually faded—partly due to diminishing pressure on these platforms and the reindexing of some free titles on Itch—the recent launch of Santa Ragione’s *Horses* has reignited the discussion. This game, packed with adult content and taboo themes, has once again found itself at the center of the ongoing cultural battle over censorship in gaming.
The controversy surrounding *Horses* raises critical questions about artistic expression, the boundaries of adult content in games, and the corporate powers that dictate what is permissible. Unlike many games that faced censorship after their release, *Horses* encountered challenges even before its launch on December 2. In the week leading up to its release, Santa Ragione shared an FAQ revealing that *Horses* had already been banned on Steam, citing concerns stemming from a review build in 2023. The development team believed that a particular scene featuring a child on the shoulders of a naked woman was the primary issue for Valve. However, players who have experienced *Horses* can confirm that this scene has been revised to feature an adult woman instead, enhancing the narrative and eliminating any implications of inappropriate content involving a child.
Despite the ban, Santa Ragione proceeded with the release of *Horses* on other digital platforms, including the Epic Games Store, Itch, and GOG. Unfortunately, just before the game’s launch, the Epic Games Store removed it from their platform, although it was briefly reinstated after a review. The impact of these bans has significantly affected *Horses* and its developers, even as the surrounding controversy has garnered attention and support that might not have been achieved otherwise.
This situation is part of a broader trend of increasing censorship in the gaming industry. Following Valve’s removal of several NSFW titles—prompted by pressure from advocacy groups—there has been a tightening grip on current and future adult-themed games. Notably, games with mature themes are now barred from Steam’s early access program, making it more challenging for indie developers to succeed in exploring these topics. While the intent behind these actions may have been to eliminate harmful content, the fallout has disproportionately affected many developers, particularly those without the backing of major studios.
The chilling effect of these bans threatens to stifle creativity and limit the diversity of experiences available in gaming. We are witnessing a digital marketplace that selectively enforces a vague purity test, determining which artistic expressions are deemed acceptable. The ban on *Horses*, which could restrict its access to a significant portion of the PC gaming market, raises serious concerns about the future of artistic freedom in games.
Moreover, the enforcement of these policies raises questions about who gets to create and share adult content in gaming. As noted by industry observers, there are numerous games and franchises that tackle similar themes without facing the same scrutiny. The disparity in treatment suggests that larger, more profitable titles can navigate these waters with relative ease, while smaller developers like Santa Ragione face harsh consequences.
The gaming industry seems intent on catering to a sanitized audience, offering only the “right” kind of mature content. This trend is troubling, especially as the medium continues to be overshadowed by mainstream titles that often prioritize profit over artistic exploration. There is a pressing need for games that challenge norms, provoke thought, and explore uncomfortable themes, even if they aren’t universally appealing.
The core issue at play threatens to undermine the artistic integrity of gaming, as it seeks to suppress the authentic and often uncomfortable expressions that define true art. For the sake of the industry’s growth and recognition as a legitimate art form, it is crucial to resist these efforts. This is a call to support *Horses*, all NSFW and adult games unjustly censored, and to champion future titles that dare to push boundaries.
