Itch.io Restricts Access to Some Creator Pages in the UK Amid Online Safety Act Rules

Adult content on the internet has been under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, and game distribution platform Itch.io is now caught up in the debate again.

Developers and authors on the site have reported that their creator pages are no longer visible to users in the UK, with Itch.io citing compliance with the country’s new Online Safety Act.

Interestingly, while the individual works uploaded by these creators — including games and bundles — can still be accessed, the authors’ main profile pages remain hidden. Instead, a disclaimer now appears, explaining that the restriction is in place to meet legal requirements in the UK.

Creators Speak Out

Belgian author Ela Bambust was among the first to draw attention to the issue on Bluesky. Testing the claim confirmed that her profile was blocked when accessed from a UK location, even though her games were still viewable after inputting an age verification. Similar restrictions were found across other creators in the adult content space, suggesting that this is not an isolated case.

The official message from Itch.io reads: “We value our users around the world and are committed to complying with local laws and regulations. While we are currently unable to provide this specific content or service to users in the UK, we continue to evaluate our offerings and compliance framework, and we hope to make more content available in the future.”

Wider Impact of the Online Safety Act

Under the UK’s Online Safety Act, digital platforms must ensure adult material is not accessible to under-18 users. To meet these requirements, several platforms such as Discord, Bluesky, X, and Spotify have already rolled out stricter ID checks, ranging from selfies to official document scans. Even Xbox has introduced optional age verification ahead of its mandatory rollout next year.

What This Means Going Forward

For now, UK-based users may still access adult games on Itch.io, but with creator pages restricted, the browsing experience has clearly changed. Developers argue this undermines visibility and community engagement, while critics see it as a slippery slope toward outright censorship. With similar regulations being considered in other regions, the debate around adult content in gaming is far from over.