Itch.io’s founder, Leaf Corcoran, announced that the platform is set to re-index free adult content, following a complete removal that stemmed from pressure by an anti-pornography lobby aimed at payment processors. This decision comes amid continued discussions with partners regarding the future inclusion of adult material on the site, as Corcoran stated, “We may review that initial list for potential re-introduction.”
While Itch.io has been more vulnerable to scrutiny due to its smaller size relative to competitors like Steam, the initiative taken to bring back free content is seen as a step towards recovering from the previous backlash. Moreover, a representative from the payment processor Stripe mentioned a hope to support such content moving forward, exploring ways to establish broader norms that can protect creators in the long term.