Mainstream Games Like GTA and Duke Nukem Could Be Next in Payment Processor Crackdown

GTA Vice City and Duke Nukem.

The crackdown on adult games might just be the opening act. According to ZOOM Platform, payment processors have hinted that Grand Theft Auto, Duke Nukem, and Saints Row could be next in line for removal — raising the stakes far beyond the world of niche NSFW titles.

In a conversation with GamingOnLinux, the retro-focused storefront said these well-known franchises were mentioned during talks with payment companies as being "potentially at risk." The warning came as ZOOM, like many other platforms, faced pressure to take down certain adult-themed games. But the company isn’t backing down.

“We have no plans to remove any titles, and will do absolutely everything in our power to prevent such de-listings,” ZOOM stated.

Why GTA Could Be in the Crosshairs

The idea of Grand Theft Auto being “at risk” might sound far-fetched, but history says otherwise. The Australian activist group Collective Shout — a key driver behind recent payment processor pressure — has a long history of campaigning against games they deem problematic.

Back in 2014, they targeted GTA V, claiming it encouraged players to “brutally murder women for entertainment.” The backlash led to the game being pulled from several major Australian retail chains. They’ve also taken aim at other big titles like Detroit: Become Human for depictions of child abuse and violence against women.

If the group’s influence over payment processors continues, it wouldn’t be shocking to see older “mature” franchises like Duke Nukem and Saints Row put under the microscope.

Up until now, the conversation has mostly been about explicit or fetish-driven indie games being delisted from platforms like Steam and Itch.io. But ZOOM’s warning suggests the campaign could spill over into mainstream gaming — targeting titles that are legal but controversial.

For now, ZOOM Platform is standing its ground. And if they’re right, this isn’t just about protecting small adult game creators anymore — it’s about whether some of gaming’s most iconic (and infamous) franchises can survive the next wave of moral policing.