So the new itch.io guidelines are out and they are both predictably bad and also quite unpredictably bad. There's so much to go over here but here are some of the highlights:
First we have the broadly worded content restrictions. So much of this is just strictly bad for several reasons (for example, you cannot have a NSFW game that doesn't even fetishize rape but has rape be an important thematic element under these new rules) but my personal favorite is that these are so broad that huge swaths of content are just banned from itch.io. You like VNs of monster girls having sex? Sorry, but your favorite spider girl VN is animal-related, we cannot prove that you don't want to fuck spiders so its gone.
(a real problem anyone thinks about??????)
Game where you can transformed by magical artifacts and sometimes fucked? Sorry, that's non-consensual content. Banned. You cannot be transformed into a maid against your will. You also cannot have your protagonist call an older woman "mommy" because likeeeee that's incestual right?
"Minor-presenting" what the fuck does this mean. Genuinely. If a grown woman wears a fetish uniform is that minor presenting??? What the fuck are you talking about.
Also by the way if they feel your content is "too bad" for their platform, which includes a list of conditions incredibly broad to contain things like "a woman who likes being gagged during sex", they will just steal your revenue. No no no not just the revenue from the work in question. All of it. This makes any NSFW work a ticking timebomb, especially since itch.io doesn't have the fucking staff to deal with all of this! There's no second chances. You are not protected against fraudulent report or our dumb as fuck employees.
itch.io right now is just not a safe platform for NSFW content, and honestly, it really should be said, a fair swath of SFW content too. Don't use it, find alternative ways to survive in the market right now.
It's not going to be easy, but it's necessary. Here's a link to an article going over some solutions. I cannot personally vouch for any of these in particular but you need to do what you gotta.
Also, harass VISA and Mastercard. Phone calls over emails. Ruin their workflow. Do it for weeks, don't give up.
If you don't know where to start with telling VISA, Mastercard, Paypal, Stripe, etc. what they're doing by tryna dictate what people choose to do with THEIR OWN MONEY is extremely harmful to consumers and businesses alike, these links're very helpful (they come with scripts!!!)
Collective action against payment processors unjustly restricting our purchases.
And please keep in mind that while these censorships're beyond fucking aggravating, DO NOT BE VERBALLY ABUSIVE OVER THE PHONE. If you're informed to email your complaints, respectfully say that you'd also like to make a verbal one as well.
Send emails and letters as well!
Also, a massive FUCK YOU to COLLECTIVE SHOUT AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THEM!!!
Also please don't forget about PayPal and Stripe when voicing your disapproval of these policies. I know alotta people (myself included) who use PayPal and from what I've heard/read, they're not entirely aware of what's been going on or received any calls about this situation.
While I never used Stripe, I've seen that they've created obstacles for people to go through in order to get into contact with them.
Anywayz, keep up the good fight everyone!
