Indie storefront Itch.io has announced a significant update regarding its approach to free NSFW (not safe for work) games. In a recent post on the company’s website, founder Leaf Corcoran shared that the platform is reintroducing free adult content, with plans to gradually bring back paid games in the near future.
Content Management and Payment Provider Discussions
Corcoran also addressed the heightened scrutiny that Itch.io has faced concerning its content in recent weeks. To navigate this landscape, the platform is implementing a new “content warning” system. This initiative aims to ensure that all pages featuring adult content are properly tagged as NSFW, promoting transparency and user awareness. While the feature is still in development, developers will be required to tag their projects appropriately to facilitate reindexing on the platform.
In light of these changes, Itch.io has been actively engaging in discussions with payment provider Stripe regarding the current situation. Stripe has expressed its inability to support sexually explicit content due to restrictions imposed by its banking partners. Despite this limitation, the company noted that card networks generally allow adult content, provided that the necessary registrations are in place. Stripe remains optimistic about the possibility of supporting adult content in the future.
This proactive approach by Itch.io reflects the platform’s commitment to fostering a diverse range of content while navigating the complexities of payment processing in the adult entertainment sector.
