Itch.io Explains Removal of 2025’s Top PC Game From Search
▼ Summary
– Itch.io clarified that Mouthwashing was de-indexed in October 2024 for not meeting indexing criteria, not due to recent NSFW content removals.
– Payment processors and right-wing advocacy groups pressured platforms like Itch.io and Steam to delist NSFW games, impacting even non-sexual mature content.
– Mouthwashing, a critically acclaimed horror game, was de-indexed from Itch.io, harming its visibility despite still being accessible via direct links.
– The game contains extreme violence but no sexual content, yet was caught in a broader push to “de-risk” adult-themed games.
– Developers and civil liberties groups like the ACLU are organizing counter-pressure to reverse payment processors’ stance on adult content.
The recent removal of critically acclaimed horror game Mouthwashing from Itch.io’s search results has sparked controversy, highlighting broader concerns about content moderation policies affecting indie developers. While the platform clarified the delisting occurred months prior due to technical violations, the timing coincides with wider industry crackdowns on adult content, raising questions about collateral damage to non-explicit titles.
Platform representatives explained via social media that Mouthwashing’s disappearance stemmed from failing to meet indexing criteria, specifically the use of a download button redirecting to Steam instead of hosting playable files. However, the situation unfolded amid sweeping removals of NSFW games following pressure from payment processors and advocacy groups like Collective Shout. Though their campaign targeted sexually explicit material, the ripple effect has impacted horror and mature-themed games unrelated to pornography.
Despite its graphic violence and disturbing themes, Mouthwashing earned widespread praise since its 2024 release, securing multiple year-end awards and an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam with 28,000+ reviews. Its sudden invisibility on Itch.io, while still accessible via direct link, threatens discoverability for the small development team Wrong Organ. Audio designer Martin Halldin voiced concerns about the disproportionate consequences for indie titles relying on organic search traffic.
The broader trend reflects growing friction between financial intermediaries and creative expression. Advocacy groups claim to combat harmful content, yet their influence has led platforms to preemptively restrict diverse adult themes, including psychological horror. In response, developers and civil liberties organizations like the ACLU are mobilizing pushback, circulating petitions urging payment providers to reconsider blanket policies.
As debates over content moderation intensify, Mouthwashing’s case underscores the unintended fallout when platforms prioritize risk aversion over nuance. With indie games increasingly caught in wider netting operations, the industry faces critical questions about balancing safety measures with artistic freedom.
(Source: GameSpot)
