Santa Ragione, the indie studio behind the horror game “Horses,” is in hot water. After already being kicked off Steam, they’ve now been banned by Epic Games, just a day before the game was supposed to launch. This leaves “Horses” in a tough spot, with the studio struggling to recoup an estimated $100,000 spent on its development.
Epic’s notice, which the studio received just 24 hours prior to the release, cited violations of its inappropriate content and abusive content policies. Basically, they deemed the game as promoting unacceptable themes without giving detailed reasons. Santa Ragione pushed back, emphasizing their game critiques violence and abuse, and argued that its nudity is pixelated. Despite their appeal, Epic stood firm, denying any further clarification.
Context of the Ban
Santa Ragione said that although “Horses” was given the green light weeks ahead of its release, the late ban came as a shock. The studio pointed out that the game’s two key adult scenes are largely off-camera and not explicit. This has sparked questions about what exactly constitutes “problematic” content in the eyes of Epic.
Interestingly, “Horses” is still available on GOG and Itch.io. As Santa Ragione navigates these challenges, many players are keen on how the story unfolds. For context, the game has gained popularity, currently topping charts on GOG.
Potential Market Impact
The removal from both Steam and Epic leaves Santa Ragione with limited distribution channels. To recuperate expenditures, they need to rely heavily on remaining platforms. This situation raises questions about the indie game market and the impact of major storefronts on developers.
– Major storefront ban impacts indie sales
– Criticism revolving around content moderation policies
– Discussion on the definition of inappropriate content in games
Future of ‘Horses’
With only a couple of outlets left for distribution, the future of “Horses” hangs in the balance. Santa Ragione hopes to find a way to address concerns raised by giants like Epic and create a more sustainable path forward.
