In the latest development,following pressure from payment processors to stop the sale of “content that may violate the rules and standards,” set forth by the companies, namely adult-related content,one of 2024’s highest-rated gameshas seemingly been de-indexed and is no longer available for access.
Initially, Martin Halldin, who works on audio and music at developer Wrong Organ,posted on Blueskythat Mouthwashing had been removed from search results on Itch.io,another storefront that has been pressured into removing adult games from its results.
Indeed, typing in “Mouthwashing” on Itch.io’s search function does not bring up the game itself, but rather an add-on featuring a character from the title for a separate game.
Additionally,on the game’s direct Itch.io page, while still active, pressing the “Download” button does not take users directly to a place on Itch to get the game, but rather to Steam, where the game is, as of this writing, still available for purchase.
At the moment, it’s unclear if the game will eventually be re-added to the site, or if it’s gone for good. Previously,a list of prohibited content themes was added to Itch.io’s website, which included themes like “non-consensual content (real or implied) and “sex trafficking implications,” among others,though it doesn’t seem like Mouthwashing includes any such themes, making the situation all the more confusing.
Gamers Have Been Attempting To Change Fate
Late last week,TheGamer reported on the efforts of individual gamers to contact Visa and other payment processors about the removal of adult games, hoping that a mass rally could help reverse course on what has been an unpopular decision.
For its part,Collective Shout, the group that has reportedly been behind these measures being put in place, said that it did not hear back directly from Steam regarding its efforts, which prompted the group to approach payment processors.
