Save games from censorship
Save games from censorship
Das Problem
Digital games are an important medium for self-expression and exploration. But they’re under attack.
Recently, this development took a significant turn for the worse, with both Steam and itch.io being pressured into removing content that is deemed “brand-damaging” or “offensive” by payment processors such as PayPal, Visa and Mastercard as well as political activists. Most notably an Australian activist group called Collective Shout, which has close ties to organizations such as the National Center on Sexual Education. Much like these influential partners, Collective Shout promotes abortion bans, censorship, and the criminalisation of the solicitation of sex work. Collective Shout is also affiliated with organizations and individuals who promote trans-exclusionary views.
Under the pretext of fighting “the objectification of women and the sexualization of girls”, Collective Shout pressures corporations, marketers and media into removing all content they deem unacceptable. They purport a causal link between fictional portrayals and real-life behaviour for which they do not provide sufficient empirical evidence.
We, the undersigned, agree that: All works of media, including games, should comply with the law. And it’s important to maintain a healthy, critical discourse about themes and imagery shown in the media.
However, neither third-party guidelines nor personal beliefs should be treated as law. Doing so restricts creative freedom for artists and creators all around the world. We reject the notion that a vocal minority can stop media from existing, simply because it conflicts with their personal values. If we allow these personal dislikes to act as a threshold for what is considered acceptable or unacceptable, creative freedom ceases to exist.
We appeal to everyone who sees digital games as cultural artifacts and an important part of today’s media landscape, to stand up for our right of expression.
We demand that payment processors stop imposing their rules on shops and media distributors. We demand that they act as a neutral intermediary between suppliers and customers.
Games provide a safe space for people, young and old, to explore their identities, whether in terms of gender, sexuality, religious or cultural background. They also allow us to share our own experiences with the world, enabling others to feel seen, form communities, and embark on their own creative journeys. This especially applies to queer and adult games. All we ask is that they are given the same opportunity to find an audience that loves and cherishes them for exactly what they are.
Initial signers:
Nina Kiel (DEI advocate, game developer, journalist, researcher)
Lena Falkenhagen (Professor for Game Art and Design, novelist, Chair Woman German Writer's Association)
Nina Freeman (game developer)
Carolyn Petit (games journalist)
Taylor McCue (game developer)
Lucy Blundell (game developer)
Marion Plank (game artist, educator, Women in Games Ambassador)
Madeleine Egger (Head of Womenize! Games and Tech)
Hendrik Lesser (EGDF Chairperson, CEO remote control productions GmbH)
Gloria Manderfeld (games journalist)
Joana Almeida (game developer)
Valerie Kenntemich (game developer)
Mel Taylor (director, MELLOW Games)
Alice Ruppert (games producer, consultant, writer)
Bobbi A Sand (game developer)
Lara Keilbart (games journalist and developer)
Arden Osthof (game developer)
Kaitlin “KB” Bonfiglio (game developer and educator)
Mareike Ottrand (Professor Interactive Illustration and Games, HAW Hamburg)
Babsi Schwarz (translator and novelist)
Thomas Rössig (games entrepreneur, founder coach)
Manuel Fritsch (games journalist)
Mathew Varkki (game developer)
Robin Müller-Cleve (game developer, producer)
Daniel Nienhaus (game developer)
Michael Cherdchupan (games journalist, lecturer)
Guido Göbbels (design director, producer, artist)
Benjamin Cid Pérez (game developer, technical artist)
Sources:
https://www.wired.com/story/steam-itchio-are-pulling-porn-games-censorship
https://www.inverse.com/gaming/steam-adult-game-ban-censorship
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/gettingstarted/onboarding
2.609
Das Problem
Digital games are an important medium for self-expression and exploration. But they’re under attack.
Recently, this development took a significant turn for the worse, with both Steam and itch.io being pressured into removing content that is deemed “brand-damaging” or “offensive” by payment processors such as PayPal, Visa and Mastercard as well as political activists. Most notably an Australian activist group called Collective Shout, which has close ties to organizations such as the National Center on Sexual Education. Much like these influential partners, Collective Shout promotes abortion bans, censorship, and the criminalisation of the solicitation of sex work. Collective Shout is also affiliated with organizations and individuals who promote trans-exclusionary views.
Under the pretext of fighting “the objectification of women and the sexualization of girls”, Collective Shout pressures corporations, marketers and media into removing all content they deem unacceptable. They purport a causal link between fictional portrayals and real-life behaviour for which they do not provide sufficient empirical evidence.
We, the undersigned, agree that: All works of media, including games, should comply with the law. And it’s important to maintain a healthy, critical discourse about themes and imagery shown in the media.
However, neither third-party guidelines nor personal beliefs should be treated as law. Doing so restricts creative freedom for artists and creators all around the world. We reject the notion that a vocal minority can stop media from existing, simply because it conflicts with their personal values. If we allow these personal dislikes to act as a threshold for what is considered acceptable or unacceptable, creative freedom ceases to exist.
We appeal to everyone who sees digital games as cultural artifacts and an important part of today’s media landscape, to stand up for our right of expression.
We demand that payment processors stop imposing their rules on shops and media distributors. We demand that they act as a neutral intermediary between suppliers and customers.
Games provide a safe space for people, young and old, to explore their identities, whether in terms of gender, sexuality, religious or cultural background. They also allow us to share our own experiences with the world, enabling others to feel seen, form communities, and embark on their own creative journeys. This especially applies to queer and adult games. All we ask is that they are given the same opportunity to find an audience that loves and cherishes them for exactly what they are.
Initial signers:
Nina Kiel (DEI advocate, game developer, journalist, researcher)
Lena Falkenhagen (Professor for Game Art and Design, novelist, Chair Woman German Writer's Association)
Nina Freeman (game developer)
Carolyn Petit (games journalist)
Taylor McCue (game developer)
Lucy Blundell (game developer)
Marion Plank (game artist, educator, Women in Games Ambassador)
Madeleine Egger (Head of Womenize! Games and Tech)
Hendrik Lesser (EGDF Chairperson, CEO remote control productions GmbH)
Gloria Manderfeld (games journalist)
Joana Almeida (game developer)
Valerie Kenntemich (game developer)
Mel Taylor (director, MELLOW Games)
Alice Ruppert (games producer, consultant, writer)
Bobbi A Sand (game developer)
Lara Keilbart (games journalist and developer)
Arden Osthof (game developer)
Kaitlin “KB” Bonfiglio (game developer and educator)
Mareike Ottrand (Professor Interactive Illustration and Games, HAW Hamburg)
Babsi Schwarz (translator and novelist)
Thomas Rössig (games entrepreneur, founder coach)
Manuel Fritsch (games journalist)
Mathew Varkki (game developer)
Robin Müller-Cleve (game developer, producer)
Daniel Nienhaus (game developer)
Michael Cherdchupan (games journalist, lecturer)
Guido Göbbels (design director, producer, artist)
Benjamin Cid Pérez (game developer, technical artist)
Sources:
https://www.wired.com/story/steam-itchio-are-pulling-porn-games-censorship
https://www.inverse.com/gaming/steam-adult-game-ban-censorship
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/gettingstarted/onboarding
2.609
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Petition am 27. Juli 2025 erstellt