How Horses’ Ban Reflects The Gaming Industry’s Double Standards And Emotional Immaturity

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The political landscape has changed dramatically, leading to a surge in restrictive rules and policies, making 2025 a particularly troubling year for free expression, including in video games. Many games, especially adult-themed titles labeled as NSFW, were removed from or hidden on platforms like Steam and Itch due to pressure on the companies that handle their payments. While the initial outrage over these removals faded—partly because of waning pressure and partly because some free games were reinstated on Itch—the recent release of the game Horses has reignited the debate before the end of the year.

The game ‘Horses,’ which contains mature themes, is facing criticism as part of a larger debate about acceptable content in media and gaming. This controversy highlights broader questions about artistic freedom, specifically who gets to create and showcase adult content in games, and what boundaries corporate game companies will enforce on these types of explorations.

The situation with the game ‘Horses’ is significant in this ongoing debate because of the steps taken to address potential issues before its release. Most of the other censorship cases discussed happened after games were already available and listed on stores for a while. However, ‘Horses’ has been dealing with challenges even before it launches on December 2nd.

Before its release, Santa Ragione explained on their FAQ that the game Horses had already been prohibited on Steam, and detailed the reasons behind Valve’s decision. It appears the ban originated from a review version of the game in 2023 and a disagreement between the developers and Valve. The game was banned before it could be completed or changed significantly. The developers specifically believed Valve was most concerned about a scene in the unfinished build that showed a child riding on the shoulders of a nude woman.

Those who’ve played the game Horses will notice a significant improvement in one particular scene. It now features an adult woman instead of a young girl. This change dramatically strengthens the scene because of the conversation the player has with her. She calmly accepts the presence of the horse-shaped figure and knowingly acknowledges the disturbing events happening on the farm, implicating herself and her father. This also definitively removes any concerns that the scene was intended to be exploitative, even though the original interaction wasn’t sexual in nature.

Even though it was banned on one platform, Santa Ragione still released the game on December 2nd through other online stores like the Epic Games Store, Itch, and GOG. However, the Epic Games Store unexpectedly removed the game shortly after, even though some reviewers had already played it. A few days later, Humble also temporarily removed the game before putting it back up for sale after a second look.

These bans have seriously damaged both the game Horses and its publisher. While the resulting controversy has brought some unexpected attention, the harm done is lasting.

The removal of horse-themed games from Steam is part of a larger, worrying pattern. After Valve removed several explicit and disturbing games – those depicting things like rape, incest, and child abuse – following pressure from the group Collective Shout, it now seems to be restricting many adult games, both new and upcoming, that even touch on similar subjects. Specifically, games with mature or sexually explicit content are no longer allowed in Steam’s Early Access program, making it much harder for independent developers who create this type of content to gain attention or succeed. While the initial goal was to remove truly harmful games, the impact has spread, creating problems for many developers, though not all are affected equally.

The recent wave of game bans, combined with the hesitancy of major game developers to tackle sensitive topics, is worrying for the future of the industry. We’re seeing digital stores deciding which games are acceptable based on unclear standards, essentially controlling what art can entertain and challenge us. The ban of the game ‘Horses’ – which could exclude it from reaching over 75% of PC gamers on Steam alone – and changes to Steam’s policies suggest a real threat to creative freedom in gaming.

I’m also worried about what these enforcement decisions suggest about what’s acceptable in these stores, and, crucially, who gets to decide. As Chris Person at Aftermath notes, many games – even entire series – explore similar themes without facing much criticism. He argues that if content like slavery were prohibited, games such as Final Fantasy XVI, Fallout: New Vegas, and Dragon Age: Origins wouldn’t be sold. Similarly, if torture is banned, Grand Theft Auto V would violate Epic’s rules with its mission “By The Book,” which depicts graphic torture. Person points out that Americans generally understand and accept violence, torture, and abuse as artistic expression, and in that regard, the game Horses is far less graphic than many scenes in a recent Mortal Kombat game.

While the events in the game Horses are disturbing and come with serious content warnings, it’s actually less extreme than the graphic Italian film Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, which heavily inspired it. In fact, Horses shows more restraint with violence than many other games rated M for mature audiences. Given the mature and challenging nature of the game’s content and themes, it’s surprising to see it – and the players who might be interested in it – being treated so delicately.

Ultimately, a game’s ability to explore mature themes often depends on its popularity and success. If a game is guaranteed to sell well – like a major title such as a new Grand Theft Auto installment – it can usually include adult content. This often means allowing players to engage in romantic relationships or depicting violence, especially when the player is the one performing those actions or benefiting from them. However, this trend is most evident in blockbuster titles, and you can easily see it reflected in the games recognized at events like the 2025 Game Awards.

Larian Studios, famous for the hit game Baldur’s Gate 3, recently showed off their next project, Divinity, with a trailer that pushed boundaries. The trailer featured extremely realistic and graphic scenes of violence, gore, and sexual content – including a man being sacrificed, cult members engaging in disturbing rituals, and graphic depictions of his death. Surprisingly, a young girl initially appears distressed by the violence, but is then shown as an enthusiastic participant. While the trailer has sparked controversy, Larian Studios is unlikely to face the same level of backlash and potential censorship that another developer, Santa Ragione, might experience.

The main difference between these games and those like Horses appears to be money. Larger, more profitable companies can essentially ignore the rules without consequence, because challenging them would hurt these stores’ earnings. Smaller, independent developers, however, don’t have that kind of influence and are subject to Steam’s policy changes without much recourse.

Honestly, it feels like the big companies running gaming are trying to control what we play, only giving us the kind of ‘mature’ games they approve of. Anything different is suddenly seen as bad or wrong. And with so many games like Fortnite, PlayStation’s big-budget titles, and frankly, a ton of low-effort AI stuff flooding the market – not to mention games like Roblox that are genuinely concerning for kids – I really crave games that are weird, experimental, and push boundaries. I want experiences that challenge me, ask tough questions, and aren’t afraid to tackle uncomfortable topics. Games should be art, even if they’re not always fun or even something I’d personally play. Anything less feels like a letdown for a medium that’s always trying to be recognized alongside other art forms – forms that have consistently produced far more groundbreaking work than anything we’ve seen in gaming lately.

This problem goes deep and risks destroying the creative heart of this art form. It’s a push to cover up the honest and challenging aspects of art, which often clash with companies focused solely on making money. As this field matures and seeks respect, we need to resist this trend – for the sake of games like ‘For Horses,’ for all the adult games unfairly censored in the past, and for the future of independent creativity.

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2025-12-16 20:11