im reaching out to discord itch game group owners and bringing this up to them in hopes they bring more attention to this tho im not sure if i should bother them with this either way i hope im not stressing them out over this

Everyone, sign this petition if you want to see change:

https://chng.it/TDzjnxX6fm

It's all about this very issue, we need to show these guys we aren't going to bow to them!

anyone know where i can go to yell at itch, visa, and or collective shout for this?

What is most infuriating to me is I'm seeing devs on Bluesky showing screenshots of denied payouts because of the sudden ban of their game, that they had no warning for. These people need to pay rent, to buy food, some need to buy medication. Some people make a lot on Itch, and then to just have their payouts denied because of a sudden rule change that there was no heads up for? Itch is deplorable. And I'm seeing people who are getting shadowbanned who don't have any NSFW content at all, just LGBTQ+ content that's completely SFW. Itch is cooked.

There is a template circulating around on X in case some of you all want to reuse it: 

"Dear itch.io team,

I’m writing as a long-time supporter of itch.io and of the vibrant, experimental, and deeply personal work that has flourished on your platform — especially from queer, trans, and marginalized creators whose games may not have found a home elsewhere.

It is with deep concern that I’ve learned about the recent measures to de-index or restrict access to NSFW games on the platform. While I understand that these actions may stem from external pressures—particularly from payment processors— I believe this approach risks undermining the very spirit of creative independence that itch.io has long represented.

Historically, itch.io has been one of the few truly open spaces for boundary-pushing, community-driven work in gaming. Many queer developers have used the platform not just to distribute their games, but to explore identity, intimacy, and survival in ways that mainstream platforms actively suppress. By restricting access to adult content, especially without transparent dialogue or alternative avenues, itch.io inadvertently echoes the censorship and erasure these creators already face elsewhere.

Rather than adopting a blanket de-indexing policy, I urge you to consider more nuanced solutions that preserve your payment infrastructure without compromising on your core values:

• Categorization tools: Implement or enhance robust tagging and filtering systems that give users clear control over what they see, while keeping adult content discoverable to those who seek it out.
• Opt-in visibility: Like many other web platforms that have had to deal with the pressure of card processors, let creators mark their content appropriately and allow users to opt into viewing NSFW material, ensuring compliance without erasure.
• Payment processor segmentation: Explore separate processing flows or alternative payment options. 
• Public advocacy and transparency: Communicate openly with your community about the nature of the pressure you’re facing and invite public support. Many of us are willing to stand in solidarity with you if we know what’s at stake.

In this current political climate—where queer art is increasingly under attack—platforms like itch.io play an essential role. I sincerely hope you will reconsider this course of action and reaffirm your commitment to the creative communities that helped make itch.io what it is today."

everyone should sign this petition to fight back!

www.change.org/p/tell-mastercard-visa-activist-groups-stop-controlling-what-we-c...

Even if in the intent of self preservation they can't just restore the pages, at least moving them to a separate domain so creators could have a chance to setup a donation link of some sorts would show some  concern for their wellbeing instead of this whole delisting situation.

When visa and other payment processors wield far too much market share power and can bully platforms to take away consumer choice.

Ain't capitalism great? 

Profit is the point, not us. Never us.

Sure, you can reduce the issue to something as simple as 'let us have our porn you censor happy, greedy, cowardly fucks!', but it's not necessarily about that. Well, not 'just' that, bc it partly is, let's not get things twisted.

But the real issue is, like I said above, outside entities who have no business other than to literally process payments for the consumer, who, in theory, should be the ones in charge, dictating what's on the market and what choices consumers can make about it.  

I mean, you also have morally 'holier than thou' 'activists' too, but... let's be real. Self harm is something humans LOVE before wondering why they're bleeding so bad even as they keep hurting themselves.

You'd think ppl would've learned that fiction is fiction and is perfectly healthy and a good way to keep ppl from doing the crazy shit weirdos are forever screaming about... but... we never fucking learn... Or rather, we have the collective attention span of goldfish and can rationalize anything to avoid taking accountability or blame something else. 

Itch doesn't care about its customers or creators, at least not more than its own hide. It's that simple.

It'll keep sucking off visa with a smile on its face  until its stomach gets inflated before asking 'please sir, can I have some more?'

bullshit

They are all guilty. Shame on Itch io, shame on the payment processers!

i want to know whether leafo's boyfriend simulator is nsfw or whether he's gling to just target trans creators only

i think its time to abandon this site and go else where.  Same with steam, soon as they start loosing money they might be willing to fight.

Protecting the majority by smothering the minority in the name of nothing but money. Itchio has come a long long way from what it used to mean, and I couldn't mean that in a worse way. I'll absolutely not be doing any transactions on the platform without a restoration of this deeply disturbing moral policing.

I can sympathize with itch.io that they are in a uncomfortable position and a victim of disgusting religious zealot culture warriors. However, the lack of adequate communication on social media about the situation is not acceptable - and it is alarming that in the few communications itch.io has put out, it has not pushed back against the injustice of this, relayed sympathy with the artists and devs affected by this pressure campaign, and committed to doing all it legally can to resist the Puritan bigots that are attacking this website and its users.