Steam and itch.io Urged to Resist 'Unjust Pressure' Amid Game Censorship, Says Japanese Free Speech Group
- Sagar Mankar
- Aug 2
- 3 min read
The ongoing debate over adult game censorship has now drawn the attention of Japan’s leading free speech watchdog in the entertainment sector.
On July 30, 2025, the Association for Freedom of Entertainment Expression (AFEE) released a detailed statement urging Steam and itch.io not to "succumb to unjust pressure with no legal basis" from activist groups and payment processors.
The group, active since 2013 and backed by bipartisan political figures including National Diet member Taro Yamada, stepped forward following the mass takedowns and deindexing of adult/NSFW games on platforms like Steam and itch.io. These removals have stirred global concern over increasing third-party influence on digital content moderation.
“Arbitrary censorship” harms creators and users
“Amidst mounting moral pressure from activist groups and payment processors with no legal basis, it is extremely important for Steam and itch.io to make efforts to defend content — this is vital for ensuring diversity of culture.”
According to the organization, removing content that doesn’t violate laws is a form of “arbitrary censorship.” Such actions, they say, do more than affect visibility — they directly harm the livelihood and reputation of game developers while denying players the right to access diverse works.
"Unsubscribing content that is not illegal is detrimental to both creators and users. Not only do creators lose opportunities to generate sales, but they also risk reputational damage as inappropriate content creators, depriving users of the opportunity to freely access diverse content."
A call for dialogue and regional solutions
Rather than bending to vague external pressures, AFEE urges platforms to maintain open communication with their communities. They advocate for transparency in enforcement decisions and a commitment to policies grounded in law, not opinion.
Among AFEE’s key suggestions is the adoption of regional restrictions — like country-specific age gates or tagging systems — to address differing legal and cultural standards without enforcing a global ban.
“To comply with the laws and respect cultures in each country or region, we ask platforms to make use of regional restrictions... so that as many users as possible can access legal content in their respective territories.”
This, they argue, would allow platforms to stay compliant without sacrificing creators' rights or caving to blanket restrictions fueled by outside pressure.
Japan’s growing pushback on foreign payment influence
AFEE’s stance also reflects broader concerns within Japan. Over the years, Japanese creators of adult games, manga, and even LGBTQ+ audio dramas have seen their platforms suffer under the thumb of foreign payment processors. Agreements with VISA and Mastercard have been abruptly terminated in the past, leading to financial losses and even the shutdown of some platforms.
In this latest wave of content suppression, itch.io has named PayPal and Stripe as sources of pressure, revealing that certain payment providers flagged specific content categories. The platform has since re-indexed adult games and is actively searching for alternative partners.
This isn’t just a local issue anymore — it’s a global one, and organizations like AFEE are raising red flags early.
“Games are cultural expressions that enrich people’s lives. The rights of creators to explore themes freely and the rights of users to choose their own entertainment must be upheld.”
AFEE stands firm with platforms
AFEE closes its statement by expressing strong support for both Steam and itch.io, applauding their past efforts to enable safe access to adult content through zoning tools like age verification and content filters.
But their message is clear:
“We strongly urge each platform to continue to support creators' freedom of creation and users' freedom of choice and enjoyment without succumbing to unjustified pressure in the future.”
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