A new Italian horror game, Horses, has recently faced significant hurdles in its journey to market, as it has been banned from major PC storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, and Humble. This situation raises questions about the accessibility of adult-themed games and the boundaries of creative expression within the gaming industry.
Horror Game Horses Banned from Steam, Epic Games Store, and Humble
Initially, Horses was met with restrictions from Valve two years ago during its development phase. The developer, Santa Ragione, reported that the reasons for the ban were not clearly communicated, and despite making content adjustments, Valve opted not to reassess the game after what it described as extensive deliberation.
While this setback was significant, the developers had hoped for a release on other platforms such as Epic Games Store, Humble, GOG, and Itch.io. However, as noted by IGN, both Epic Games Store and Humble have recently withdrawn their support for the game. Epic Games cited an AO (Adults Only) rating received through the IARC Questionnaire as the primary reason for their decision. Santa Ragione contended that their submission had received an M (Mature) rating instead.
Epic’s policies explicitly prohibit AO-rated games, referencing two specific violations: the “Inappropriate Content” policy, which disallows explicit depictions of sexual behavior, and the “Hateful or Abusive Content” policy, which prohibits content promoting abuse, including animal abuse. The developers attempted to appeal the ban but received a denial within 12 hours, lacking further explanation.
As for Humble, the platform has yet to provide clarity on its reasons for the ban. The developers of Horses maintain that their intent is to create a challenging and thought-provoking experience rather than to shock for shock’s sake. They argue that similar content might be more readily accepted in film, with platforms like Netflix and Amazon allowing greater creative freedom.
Currently, Horses is available for purchase at on GOG and Itch.io, where it has garnered a favorable user review score of 4.4 out of 5 on GOG. The ongoing debate surrounding the game’s accessibility highlights the complexities of content regulation in the gaming industry and the balance between artistic expression and marketability.
