Acclaimed Italy-based indie studio Santa Ragione is facing a critical juncture as it prepares to launch its upcoming experimental horror game, Horses. This project, which the studio has described as potentially its final endeavor, has encountered an unexpected hurdle: a ban from Steam that co-founder Pietro Righi Riva has labeled “extremely frustrating and also fucked up.” While Santa Ragione may not be a household name, it has garnered respect within the gaming community for its innovative titles, including the visual novel Mediterranea Inferno and the survival horror experience Saturnalia, both released in 2023. The studio is known for its surrealist themes and avant-garde storytelling, and Horses promises to push those boundaries even further.
Challenges with Steam
Despite the excitement surrounding Horses, Santa Ragione finds itself grappling with the ramifications of Steam’s decision to ban the game. The reasons behind this ban remain frustratingly opaque, leaving the studio eager to understand Valve’s stance and willing to make necessary adjustments for approval. According to a review of communications from Eurogamer, Game Developer, and an official FAQ page, Righi Riva has expressed the studio’s desperation to clarify the situation. Steam’s policy states, “Regardless of a developer’s intentions with their product, we will not distribute content that appears, in our judgment, to depict sexual conduct involving a minor.” This blanket statement has left Santa Ragione feeling that the explanation provided is “deliberately vague and unfounded,” as they assert that no elements of the game fall into that problematic category.
One particular scene has been identified as the catalyst for the ban: a “horse” that visually represents a naked adult woman carrying a young female child. In response to the feedback, Santa Ragione modified the scene to feature an adult character instead. However, despite these changes, Valve has remained steadfast in its decision, even as other platforms such as the Epic Games Store, GOG, and the Humble Store have expressed no issues with distributing the game.
Financial Implications
Santa Ragione has invested approximately ,000 into Horses prior to the ban, and the studio has had to rely on personal connections to secure an additional ,000 to complete the project after traditional investors withdrew their support. With access to over 75 percent of the PC gaming market effectively blocked, the studio’s prospects for recouping its investment appear bleak. “Without access to more than 75 percent of the PC gaming market,” Righi Riva stated, “we do not expect to make our money back and will likely shut down.” The press release emphasizes the impact of Steam’s refusal, noting that it has removed a primary avenue for reaching players on PC, coupled with a lack of clear paths for compliance or appeal.
In its FAQ, Santa Ragione clarifies that Horses is neither “pornographic” nor “[intended] to arouse,” but rather aims to use “challenging, unconventional material to encourage discussion.” The studio invites players to explore the emotional and thematic undercurrents of the game, focusing on tension rather than eroticism. As the situation unfolds, the future of Santa Ragione and its ambitious project hangs in the balance, raising questions about the intersection of creativity and market access in the gaming industry.
