Indie developer Santa Ragione is facing a critical challenge as its latest game, Horses, has been banned from the Epic Games Store just one day before its scheduled release. This comes shortly after the game was also removed from Steam, the world’s largest PC gaming platform, putting additional pressure on the studio’s survival. The sudden ban raises questions about storefront content policies and the challenges indie developers face in navigating them.
Background and Previous Challenges
Santa Ragione had previously revealed that it was at risk of closure due to Steam’s decision to ban Horses. The studio explained that losing access to Steam, a crucial distribution platform, severely limits its ability to recover the $100,000 investment put into development. The situation took a turn for the worse when Epic Games, which had initially approved the game for sale weeks prior, revoked its approval just 24 hours before launch, leaving the developers scrambling.
Reasons Behind Epic’s Ban
Epic Games cited violations of its policies related to inappropriate content and hateful or abusive content to justify the removal. Specifically, Epic flagged the game for allegedly promoting abuse and animal abuse, terms derived from their policy that prohibits content encouraging such behaviors. Additionally, Epic pointed out that Horses had received an adults-only rating, which is not permitted on their storefront. Despite Santa Ragione’s attempts to appeal, the decision stood firm, with the appeal denied just twelve hours after submission and without further detailed explanation.
About the Game Horses
Horses is a horror game that tells the story of a college student working on a farm during summer. The twist is that the farm’s horses are nude human adults wearing equine masks, living their lives as horses. The game explores dark themes and offers a strong critique of violence and abuse. Santa Ragione emphasized that the game does not promote abuse but rather critiques it, with the nudity being pixelated and sexual content censored and minimal. The gameplay experience lasts about three hours and incorporates subtle storytelling to address these issues.
Santa Ragione’s Appeal and Responses
In its appeal, the studio highlighted the game’s critical stance on violence and abuse and clarified that sexual content is not explicit or frequent. Approximately four brief sexual sequences are present, most of which are censored or take place off-camera. Despite these clarifications, Epic maintained its refusal to reinstate the game on its store. Santa Ragione expressed frustration over the vague and broad reasons given for the ban, feeling that no specific content justification was adequately provided.
Current Availability and Market Impact
With bans from Steam and Epic, Horses is now available on only a few alternative storefronts, including GOG, where it currently tops the bestsellers list, and Itch.io. Initially planned for release on the Humble Store, the game’s listing there appears to have been removed, further restricting access. For a $5 game, these restrictions significantly reduce market reach, complicating the studio’s efforts to recoup its development costs and sustain its operations.
How Developers Can Navigate Storefront Bans
– Maintain clear communication with platform review teams to understand policy concerns.
– Prepare alternative distribution channels such as independent websites or smaller storefronts.
– Engage with community support to raise awareness and foster advocacy for the game.
– Adjust content or feature presentation to meet specific platform guidelines without compromising artistic vision.
– Document appeal responses thoroughly to refine future submissions and improve compliance.
Broader Implications for Indie Developers
The bans highlight ongoing tensions between creative expression and commercial gatekeeping in digital marketplaces. Indie studios must balance sensitive or provocative themes with platform policies that can be opaque or inconsistently enforced. This environment poses risks for developers who tackle challenging subjects, reinforcing the importance of diversified distribution strategies and clear policy engagement.
Outlook and Industry Response
As Santa Ragione focuses on maintaining availability through alternative outlets, the gaming community and industry watchers continue to debate the fairness and transparency of storefront content policies. The situation with Horses may prompt calls for clearer guidelines and more consistent enforcement by major distributors. Meanwhile, the indie developer’s struggle underscores the precarious position of small studios dependent on digital storefronts to reach their audience.
