“Horses” Banned from Steam: A Deep Dive into the Controversy and Potential Studio Closure
The indie game landscape is often fraught with challenges,but few developers face hurdles as stark as Santa Ragione,the studio behind the upcoming title Horses. Recently, Valve unexpectedly banned Horses from its Steam storefront, a decision that threatens the very existence of the small progress team. This article breaks down the situation, exploring the details of the ban, the studio’s response, and the wider implications for indie game developers.
The Road to Rejection: A Shift in Steam’s requirements
Santa Ragione initially submitted Horses to Steam for a “Coming Soon” page in 2023. This is a standard practice for developers building anticipation for thier releases. However, Valve unexpectedly requested a fully playable build – a requirement the studio hadn’t encountered before.
Co-founder Pietro Righi Riva explained to IGN that they quickly assembled a playable version simply to meet Steam’s request. This build was then rejected, leading to a frustrating period of uncertainty.
The Vague Ban & Allegations of Inappropriate Content
The core of the issue lies in the reason provided for the ban. Steam informed Santa ragione that Horses featured “themes, imagery, or descriptions that [Steam] won’t distribute.” Specifically, the message referenced content depicting “sexual conduct involving a minor,” even acknowledging the possibility of “gray areas” and subtle depictions.
The studio vehemently disputes this claim, labeling the explanation “deliberately vague and unfounded.” While an early iteration of the game did include a scene featuring a child riding on the shoulders of a nude, masked figure (representing the game’s unique depiction of horses as naked people), Santa Ragione asserts this scene was removed before submission to Steam.
A Lack of Transparency & Unsuccessful Appeals
What’s especially concerning for Santa Ragione is the complete lack of specific feedback from Valve. Riva stated they repeatedly requested clarification on what triggered the ban, offering to make changes, but their appeals were ignored.This lack of transparency has left the studio feeling helpless and frustrated. kotaku reached out to Valve for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.
Is This Related to Recent Steam purges?
Santa Ragione is clear: this situation is not connected to the recent wave of game removals from Steam stemming from pressure on payment processors regarding alleged pornographic content. This is a separate, distinct issue centered around Horses itself.
The Potential Fallout: A Studio on the Brink
The Steam ban is a perhaps fatal blow to santa Ragione. The studio estimates Steam controls over 75% of the PC gaming market. Without access to this crucial platform, recouping development costs for Horses will be incredibly arduous.
They’ve secured funding to support the game for approximately six months post-launch, but beyond that, the future of the studio is uncertain.As reported by game Developer, the situation is “scary, humiliating, and patronising” for the team.
What Does This Mean for Indie Developers?
This case raises critically important questions about Steam’s content moderation policies and the level of transparency offered to developers.
* Shifting Standards: The unexpected request for a playable build for a “Coming Soon” page suggests evolving requirements from Steam.
* Vague Rejections: The lack of specific feedback leaves developers in a precarious position, unable to address concerns effectively.
* Financial Risk: Reliance on a single platform like steam can be devastating when faced with unexpected bans.
Where Can You Find Horses?
despite the Steam ban, Horses is still launching on December 4th on other PC gaming storefronts. It will be available for $5.
Supporting Santa Ragione: If you’re interested in experiencing this unique and controversial title, purchasing Horses on another platform is a direct way to support the studio during this challenging time.
This situation serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by autonomous game developers and the importance of clear dialog and fair practices within the industry.
Worth a look