Censorship
Ongoing coverage on Censorship.
Latest coverage
Halloween: The Game Appears to Patch Out a Sex Minigame — and Players Think They Know Why
IllFonic, the developer of Halloween: The Game, has seemingly removed a sex minigame from the title. This action followed the viral spread of a gameplay clip showcasing the content, leading to speculation about the reasons behind the patch.
The Halloween game has a sex minigame in it, except no it doesn't, because it was apparently removed
The Halloween game's controversial sex minigame, available only in its deluxe edition early access, has reportedly been silently removed by developer Illfonic. Players are expressing dissatisfaction with the removal, with speculation suggesting it was due to the potential for older characters, like Dr. Loomis or Michael Myers' therapist, to solicit sex from underage characters such as Laurie Strode.
Valve staged its own Left 4 Dead 2 trailer "leak" to get around an ESRB ban, says former writer
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek revealed that Valve intentionally 'leaked' the trailer for Left 4 Dead 2 in 2009 to bypass ESRB restrictions on its violent content. The developer had a contentious relationship with the ratings board and various countries over the game's gore and profanity, leading to this unconventional marketing tactic. The game ultimately received an M rating and was released in Germany uncensored in 2021.
The ESRB wouldn't let Valve release the cinematic trailer for Left 4 Dead 2, so what did they do? They "leaked" it, obviously
Valve intentionally 'leaked' the cinematic trailer for Left 4 Dead 2 after the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) refused to approve its release due to concerns over profanity and violence. Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek revealed the anecdote, explaining that the ESRB's strictness on marketing materials led Valve to release the trailer themselves.
Left 4 Dead 2 writer says Valve intentionally 'leaked' its cinematic trailer to get around ESRB rules: 'I…
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek revealed that the cinematic trailer for Left 4 Dead 2 was intentionally 'leaked' by the company to bypass the ESRB's rules. Valve faced scrutiny over the game's violence and language, and the ESRB had stricter regulations for marketing materials than for the games themselves.
Rockstar Censors GTA 6 Extended Look Trailer for China
Rockstar Games has released a heavily censored version of the Grand Theft Auto 6 extended look trailer specifically for the Chinese market. This action highlights the impact of censorship on game content distribution.
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.
The Nintendo ports of Metal Gear Solid 4 replace the iconic PS3 and PSP in-game consoles with generic variants
The Nintendo Switch versions of Metal Gear Solid 4, included in the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2, have replaced PlayStation-specific consoles and controllers with generic variants. References to the PlayStation 3, PSP, and DualShock 3 controllers have been altered or removed, with a Kerotan frog appearing in place of the PS3 on some versions. While PC and other console versions retain the original PlayStation branding, these changes on Nintendo platforms are speculated to be a requirement from Nintendo.
Banned In 2003, Back In 2027: Postal 2 Redux Blends The Boys With John Wick
Postal 2 Redux, a modern remake of the controversial 2003 shooter, is set for a Q1 2027 release on PC and consoles, funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign. Developed by Flat2VR Studios, the game promises rebuilt graphics, improved AI, and enhanced physics, blending extreme violence reminiscent of 'The Boys' with John Wick-style gunplay. The article speculates on potential bans in various countries due to the game's graphic content.
EA staff fear new Saudi Arabia owners will police their games: "Projects just won't get signed because they don't align explicitly with what the Saudi government wants"
Employees at Electronic Arts are concerned that the company's new owners, primarily Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, will impose content restrictions based on the country's standards. Staff fear that projects may not be approved if they do not align with the Saudi government's views, particularly regarding social issues like LGBT representation, which is criminalized in Saudi Arabia. Despite reassurances from EA, employees find the responses unsatisfactory and worry about job security and creative freedom.
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 has apparently removed MGS4’s PS3 on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2, launching August 27, 2026, for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, appears to have removed references to the PlayStation 3 in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. While the original game featured a PlayStation 3 console and a line referencing its Blu-ray disc, the Nintendo versions reportedly replace the console with GA-KO figures, sparking speculation about dialogue changes. Konami has also provided details on the games' performance on Nintendo's platforms.
I'm boycotting Love and Deepspace for killing my virtual boyfriend, and so are 251,000 other loyal widows
Thousands of players are boycotting the romance simulation game Love and Deepspace after developer Infold Games canceled the release of a character named Valko due to controversy. The developer has reportedly ignored community pleas to restore the character, leading to significant player dissatisfaction and a reported drop in revenue and downloads. The author criticizes Infold Games for succumbing to pressure and failing to represent the diverse desires of its female player base.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic devs were so committed to the RPG's bad language that they spent a day…
Developers for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic faced restrictions from Lucasfilm regarding the use of the word 'damn'. Despite a writer's efforts to find in-film precedents, most instances were removed due to rights holder decisions, though a few remained, contributing to the game's T for Teen ESRB rating.
Saudi Arabia’s $55 Billion EA Takeover Casts a Shadow Over Mass Effect 5
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has acquired a controlling stake in Electronic Arts for $55 billion, taking the publisher private. This acquisition raises concerns among fans and developers about potential censorship and changes to inclusive content in franchises like Mass Effect and The Sims, particularly given the country's laws regarding homosexuality. The future of Mass Effect 5, currently in early development at BioWare, is now uncertain under new ownership.
Larian gets briefly kicked off YouTube, TikTok for demonic smut reasons in Baldur's Gate 3
Larian Studios' official streams on YouTube and TikTok were briefly taken down due to content issues during a Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough by senior communications director Aofie Wilson. The game's streamer-friendly mode failed to censor certain scenes, leading to the temporary suspension of the stream. Both Larian and Wilson humorously acknowledged the incident, and the channels have since been restored.
Stellar Blade Switch 2 age rating suggests release date news could be imminent, and we probably won't be seeing any…
Stellar Blade has received an M rating from the ESRB for its Nintendo Switch 2 version, suggesting an imminent release date announcement. The rating indicates that the game will retain its mature content, including depictions of violence and sexualization, similar to its PlayStation 5 and PC releases. This port is expected to launch in 2026.
Issues and Activism
Developer Robert Yang is facing censorship issues while attempting to release his award-winning game collection, 'Just Too Gay,' on Steam and Itch. The collection is being offered for free, highlighting ongoing struggles with content restrictions in the gaming industry.
"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.
'Valve isn't interested in a nuanced conversation' says indie dev suffering from Steam censorship
Indie developer Robert Yang has detailed his struggles with Steam's content moderation policies, which have led to his games being hidden from most users due to their 'gay' nature and sexual content. Yang criticizes Valve for not engaging in nuanced conversations about content, contrasting it with the more permissive approach to sexual content in mainstream titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3. This situation highlights the ongoing impact of censorship on indie creators, even after broader crackdowns on adult content have subsided.
"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.
