Payment Processor Video Game Censorship Crackdown Could Extend to GTA, Saints Row, & More

Could the ongoing video game censorship crackdown extent to action-oriented games like Grand Theft Auto or Saints Row?

In a rapidly escalating controversy shaking the digital gaming landscape, payment processors like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Stripe are exerting immense pressure on major platforms to delist adult-oriented games.

Saints Row (2023), Volition

What began as targeted removals of explicit titles on storefronts like Steam and Itch.io has now spilled over to smaller, retro-focused sites such as Zoom Platform. Alarmingly, this purge is raising fears that even mainstream action games—long criticized for violence, sexual themes, and mature content—could be next on the chopping block.

Titles like Grand Theft Auto, Duke Nukem, and Saints Row have been explicitly flagged as “at risk” during discussions between platforms and processors. This development signals a potential slippery slope toward wider censorship, where artistic freedom in gaming hangs in the balance.

Eve in Stellar Blade (2024), Shift Up

As of August 2025, the campaign spearheaded by the Australian advocacy group Collective Shout has gained traction, forcing platforms to navigate a minefield of compliance demands while trying to preserve user access to diverse content. With over 17,000 games reportedly affected on Itch.io alone, the industry is grappling with what many see as an overreach that could redefine what’s acceptable in video games.

The Origins of the Pressure: Collective Shout’s Campaign

The push to sanitize digital storefronts traces back to Collective Shout, a charity organization founded in 2010 that campaigns against the objectification of women and children in media. The group has a history of targeting mature video games, notably contributing to the 2014 removal of Grand Theft Auto V from Australian retailers like Target and Kmart due to its depictions of women.

A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games

In recent months, Collective Shout escalated its efforts by directly lobbying payment processors rather than the platforms themselves. According to a statement from the group, they approached these financial gatekeepers after months of ignored complaints to Steam.

“We approached payment processors because Steam did not respond,” Collective Shout explained in a public post, claiming responsibility for the subsequent delistings on both Steam and Itch.io. This strategy leverages the processors’ influence, as platforms rely on them for transactions—without compliant payment options, sales grind to a halt.

A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games

The group’s tactics have drawn criticism for being overly broad and ideologically driven. Critics argue that while protecting vulnerable groups is important, blanket bans risk stifling creative expression. Collective Shout’s involvement has been likened to historical moral panics over video games, echoing debates from the 1990s about titles like Mortal Kombat and Doom.

Impact on Major Platforms: Steam and Itch.io Under Fire

Steam, Valve’s dominant PC gaming storefront, was among the first to feel the heat.

In July 2025, reports emerged of games being quietly delisted or de-indexed—meaning they’re hidden from search results and harder to find.

A screenshot from Duke Nukem Forever (2011), Gearbox Software

Itch.io, a popular indie platform known for its open policies, followed suit, confirming the removal or de-indexing of certain content in response to processor demands. A staggering 17,000 titles were affected on Itch.io, prompting the platform to actively seek alternative payment processors that are more tolerant of adult-oriented games.

Zoom Platform’s Defiant Stance and the “At-Risk” Games

Smaller platforms aren’t immune. Zoom Platform, a DRM-free store specializing in retro and cult classic games, recently disclosed similar pressures from an unnamed “fellow member of the industry” via their payment processors.

In a statement, Zoom affirmed its commitment to artistic freedom.

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

A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games

To circumvent scrutiny on individual transactions, Zoom is implementing a wallet system where users preload funds, alongside enhanced two-factor authentication for security.

The platform, founded by industry veteran Bernie Stolar (known for launching the PlayStation and Dreamcast in North America), hosts a eclectic library including edutainment, oddities, and yes, adult-oriented games.

It’s notably the only legal digital source for original Duke Nukem side-scrollers.

A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games

During negotiations with PayPal and Stripe, representatives revealed that games like Grand Theft Auto, Duke Nukem, and Saints Row were cited as potentially problematic.

These titles, while not explicitly adult-oriented, feature satirical brutality, innuendo, and mature humor that have drawn ire from advocacy groups for decades. The Grand Theft Auto series, for instance, has faced bans and lawsuits over its depictions of crime and sexuality, while Duke Nukem is infamous for its crude protagonist and so-called objectification themes.

Broader Implications: Are Action Games Next to Be Censored?

The concern that action games might be the next to be censored appears well-founded amid this controversy. Developers of the viral co-op game Chained Together (formerly known as Peak) echoed this sentiment.

“It’d be foolish to assume that any game is safe,” they said.

A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto VI (2025), Rockstar Games

The fear is that once explicit adult games are purged, the net will widen to include any title with edgy content—violence, satire, or even mild innuendo.

This isn’t without precedent. Collective Shout’s past successes, like pulling GTA V from shelves, demonstrate their persistence. Industry watchers warn of a “slippery slope,” where payment processors become de facto censors, bypassing platform policies.

Organizations like the UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) have addressed the issue, calling for clearer guidelines on video game censorship to protect legal content. Meanwhile, some platforms like GOG have pushed back by offering mature games for free temporarily, emphasizing that “if a game is legal and responsibly made, players should be able to enjoy it.”

Conclusion: A Crossroads for Gaming Freedom

As the dust settles on this latest video game censorship wave, the industry stands at a crossroads.

Platforms like Zoom are innovating to protect their catalogs, but the threat to beloved action franchises looms large. If Grand Theft Auto, Duke Nukem, and Saints Row fall victim, it could signal the end of an era for unfiltered gaming experiences.

Lucia and Jason, the playable couple in GTA 6 – YouTube, Rockstar Games

Ultimately, the battle pits artistic liberty against moral advocacy, with payment processors holding the reins. For now, developers and players alike are watching closely, hoping that reason—and not restriction—prevails.

Do you think this video game censorship push will extend to action titles? Sound off in the comments and let us know!

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