Itch.io
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Itch.io.
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The adult game crackdown is "ridiculous for our art form", say Hellraiser devs, but they think they'll survive thanks to that Clive Barker association
Developers of Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival express frustration over the ongoing crackdown on adult games, calling it 'ridiculous for our art form.' They believe the established IP status of Hellraiser provides some protection against bans on platforms like Steam, though they acknowledge the chilling effect on developers of original IPs. The game will launch on Steam on October 8 but faces challenges with age classification in territories like Germany and Japan.
Stop Killing Games has joined a lawsuit against Sony's move to digital-only sales: 'You won't have any…
The consumer group Stichting Massaschade & Consument, supported by Stop Killing Games, is suing Sony over its move towards digital-only game sales. They argue that eliminating physical discs by 2028 will create a monopoly for Sony, allowing them to dictate game prices and usage rights, removing the second-hand market and alternative purchasing options.
Ranbler - A rather decent Scramble clone for the ZX Next by zxspeccykid
Ranbler, a new game for the ZX Spectrum Next, has been released, serving as a clone of Konami's 1981 arcade classic Scramble. Developed by zxspeccykid as a solo project using z80 assembly, the game features 13 levels and incorporates advanced ZX Spectrum Next hardware capabilities. The creator credits the homebrew community and open-source materials for their learning process.
"Just too gay" - Robert Yang is battling censorship to launch a collection of his award-winning games on Steam and Itch, and it's completely free
Developer Robert Yang is facing censorship issues with his collection of experimental games, Radiator Forever, which is available for free on Steam and Itch.io. Yang criticizes platforms like Steam for stricter content rules, particularly regarding adult and LGBTQ+ themes, which he argues are unfairly applied compared to mainstream titles. The collection, initially featuring four remastered games, will be expanded over time with more of Yang's acclaimed and politically charged works.
"Compliance-in-advance is never enough to appease a zealous censor": Robert Yang on the current challenge of bringing experimental gay games to Steam
Developer Robert Yang discusses the difficulties of releasing experimental gay games like his collection Radiator Forever on platforms like Steam. He highlights issues with content moderation, age verification, and censorship campaigns that lead to games being hidden or geoblocked, even when developers attempt to comply with platform guidelines.
The Sunday Papers
This article discusses various topics in game design and the industry, including Bruno Dias's thoughts on meaningful choice in narrative, Oma Keeling's analysis of modernism and postmodernism in platformers like Fallstruktur and Automaton Lung, and Justine Barron's critique of media bias regarding Long Covid. It also touches on the politics of Dungeons & Dragons, advice for writing about indie games from Michael Brough, and the Itch.io manifesto jam.
"We have to have free human expression in some capacity": Patreon CEO shares frustrations about getting adult content past payment processors
Patreon CEO Jack Conte expressed frustration with payment processors like Stripe and Mastercard, who dictate policies on 'adult content' and threaten to withhold services. This pressure has led platforms like Steam and Itch.io to change their policies, impacting creators. Conte highlighted Patreon's efforts to build leverage through a 'hot-swappable payments architecture' to better support artists on the platform, while acknowledging the ongoing challenges in navigating these complex financial and content regulations.
The Hours Before Wyndham news - Acre of the Devil
The Hours Before Wyndham, a standalone top-down action horror experience set in the world of Acre of the Devil, is now available for free on itch.io. This smaller project serves as a prelude to the much larger and more ambitious Acre of the Devil, which is planned for future release and will feature expanded content, deeper systems, and more gameplay improvements. The game is built in Unreal Engine 5 and focuses on atmosphere, fast-paced combat, exploration, and dark western-inspired horror.
How Small Game Studios Are Bootstrapping in 2026
The article analyzes how small game studios can bootstrap their development in 2026 without external funding, highlighting platforms like Itch.io for concept validation, Steam Early Access for revenue generation, Kickstarter for community-funded projects, and Poki for publishing partnership and player data. It emphasizes that these methods are not mutually exclusive and depend on a studio's immediate needs.
Power of Pride Bundle launches on itch.io
The itch.io platform has launched the Power of Pride Bundle, featuring a collection of digital and physical games, comics, and other media from 284 queer creators. The bundle aims to provide direct financial aid to these artists and includes both a full edition and a pay-what-you-can option. The initiative is presented as a continuation of the original Queer Games Bundle and takes a stance against AI-generated content.
Itch.io launches The Power of Pride Bundle 2026, hosting projects from 284 queer creators
Itch.io has launched The Power of Pride Bundle 2026, featuring 396 projects from 284 queer creators. The bundle is priced at $60 and includes NSFW content, in support of creators impacted by delistings in 2025.
45+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Big Games Big Deals Sale
The PlayStation Store is currently hosting its Big Games Big Deals sale, featuring thousands of discounted PS5 and PS4 titles until May 6, 2026. The article highlights a curated selection of recommended games, many of which are at their lowest-ever prices.
Reality-bending puzzles arrive in Uncle Lee's Cookbook: Five Recipes for Disaster on May 12
Uncle Lee's Cookbook: Five Recipes for Disaster, a collection of five reality-bending puzzle episodes, is set to release on May 12th. Lead programmer Giuseppe Sellaroli confirmed it will be available DRM-free on Steam, GOG, and itch.io, featuring pixel art, witty dialogue, and English voice acting with Italian subtitles. The game also includes a native Linux version compatible with Steam Deck.
Adult games may be an unintended beneficiary as FTC pressure payment providers like Visa and Mastercard not to debank Trump supporters, but I doubt it
The US Federal Trade Commission has sent letters to major payment providers like Visa and Mastercard, urging them not to deny services based on political or religious views. This action, intended to prevent discrimination against Trump supporters, could inadvertently benefit the adult games industry by discouraging payment processors from bowing to pressure that previously led to content delistings on platforms like Itch.io and Valve.
The video game payment processor crisis may be getting better, thanks to the American Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warnings to payment processors like Mastercard, Visa, Stripe, and PayPal, stating they cannot deny service based on political or religious views. This action may alleviate the ongoing crisis affecting video game developers and platforms, such as Itch.io and Valve, who have faced restrictions on content and payment services due to pressure from these processors.
HORSES wins the 2026 Nuovo Award despite the bans from Steam and Epic Games
The game HORSES, developed by Santa Ragione, has won the Nuovo Award at the Independent Games Festival despite being banned from Steam and Epic Games. The game is available on GOG and itch.io. Other IGF award winners included Titanium Court for Excellence in Design and Seumas McNally Grand Prize, and Perfect Tides: Station to Station for Excellence in Narrative.
