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Chromatic Agape [New Demo]
The Future of Chromatic Agape & Itch's NSFW Censorship
Hello everyone,
Originally, I was going to include this in the June + July devlog (coming super soon~), but this topic is too important not to give it its own spotlight.
Some of you might’ve heard already, but in Itch's latest official statement, they confirmed that thousands of NSFW/R18 games are now being shadowbanned (you literally cannot find them unless you have a direct link.) And worse, some games have been taken down entirely. No warning, no appeal system, just *poof* gone.
Even scarier: a high number of games with LGBTQ+, furry, kink-positive, and trauma-focused content are getting caught in the crossfire too (or maybe... they were unofficially a target as well? ;;)
This all seems to be tied to a campaign by a hate-driven activist group called Collective Shout (they’re based in Australia and very anti-anything-sexual). They’ve been pressuring payment companies (Mastercard and Visa), and trying to force platforms like Steam and Itch to comply with their censorship demands, which is... yeah. Not a good look. You can read more about it here. Also, this is Collective Shout's official statement where they claim, among other things, that they pressured payment processors by making over 1000 phone calls to their companies.
Given Chromatic Agape's content, you can probably guess how close we are to being on the chopping block T~T The current situation is honestly terrifying… seeing folks’ months or even years of hard work quietly buried just because someone, somewhere, decided it’s “immoral” or “unsafe.”
If you want to help, you can:
- Contact Mastercard/Visa (here’s a thread with phone numbers + email info) Here's a template as well if you're unsure what to write!
- Sign this change.org petition directed towards Mastercard and Visa regarding this matter
- US folks can also sign the ACLU petition about how this hurts sex workers and creators
Also, as a heads-up: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND downloading a copy of CA just in case it vanishes from itch. I’m looking into ways to separate the NSFW content (maybe via patch?) or revise certain parts of the game if worse comes to worst (RIP Rosario’s milk ending, you were chaotic-good).
And if you’re wondering how to support our project through all this (especially since visibility seems to be dropping lately)... Share the game with your friends (yes, even that one friend who never plays games, let’s convert them to pixie lovers!) Make or share fanart and fics, I live for every pixel of love you send our way <3 Drop a rating or review on Itch! Every word helps us stay visible and heard. The louder we are, the harder it is to silence us.
Until next time~
Comments
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Dont forget people there is a bill by the name of s.401 if you live in the US get your state representive to vote on it as it would prevent these mastercard and visa from doing this shit.
Thank you very much for your honesty. If I can be so bold, I think it's very obvious that queer and "deviant" works were definitely the target. Please everyone, keep those calls and emails going to visa and mastercard! We simply cannot let this stand, it's incredibly dangerous if we just give in.
Oh no! I hope this game don't get taken down, I will seriously throw a protest if it gets caught in the crossfire, I will not let my artistic skills go to waste, I wILL MAKE MORE FANART AND SHARE IT ON BLUESKY FOR YOU OUR QUEEN AND EVERYONE ELSE wHO IS A FAN! (don't mind the w, I have to copypaste it cuz my w key on the keyboard is dead from too much mashing on it)
We have to fight back this is not right Mastercard and Visa have no right to do this!
Uncertain times. Good thing I have a habit of downloading everything I like, hah. Safer this way. Already some games disappeared from itch, but I have them. Perks of living in a kind of 3rd world country where I can be cut off the Internet any day potentially indefinitely. I'm mentally prepared for this.
Revising certain parts of the game feels like letting them win, but you should do what you feel is right and safe for you in this situation. Still, I think a separate nsfw patch is a good idea, if you'll be forced to do that. I think now is a good time for us to download games which could be under the threat of being deleted. But let's not panic. Let's be strong. Community should rally, because these activists will not stop here. There's a visible, massive reaction from the society, like petitions, and also there's a bill H.R.987 - Fair Access to Banking Act (which is similar to the ACLU petition?), if you're living in the US (I'm not, so this info is for others). Things may change for the better in the days to come. Even if not, there are already ways (and I'm sure there will be more) to ensure indie games with lgbtq+ and/or nsfw content will continue to be distributed. Self-hosting sites, alternative payment options, etc. Yes, it will be harder, but possible.
Sorry for the mistakes/messy writing, English is not my first language. Wish everyone the best in these times.
this new is very heart breaking for me because ı actually loved this game alot. ı never got a chance to write my tohughts as comment but ı really loved how this game actually touches very deep emotions and mental health topics. ım not an expert but ı feel like the main character and everything is happening with the world / characters they created can be explained in psychological ways or at least people could look the character and be able see themselves in some ways in their own mental situation. I hope there will a be a solution so that such good games like this wont be forcefully taken down. ı will try to see what ı can. hopefully everything will get better!
They're testing the waters what they can get away with. No company should have the power to tell people what they can and cannot create, support or buy.
The Patch outside ich.io seems to be a good idea, I would be sad if you had to change it. I ,too , was once forced to change one of my artworks because someome threw a massive hissy fit and i regretted it ever since.(It was nothing sexual or gory either, just a simple fihgting sport Pic.)