Over 20,000 adult-themed online games have been wiped from indie platform itch.io following pressure from Australian anti-pornography group Collective Shout, sparking backlash from gamers and a wave of online abuse.

The content purge follows a campaign by the advocacy group targeting games featuring sexual violence, including rape and incest.

Itch.io, citing pressure from payment processors such as PayPal and credit card companies, removed all ‘not safe for work’ (NSFW) games from its search index.

The move follows recent restrictions imposed by major platforms including Steam and Nintendo, which have also faced scrutiny for hosting explicit content.

Collective Shout, led by Melinda Tankard Reist (pictured below), claimed credit for the crackdown after its supporters contacted payment providers urging them to cut ties with platforms offering what they labelled “rape and child abuse simulators.”

The tipping point was the controversial game No Mercy, removed earlier this year.

But the sweeping removal of content has enraged gamers worldwide, many accusing the group of censorship.

Some users reported that even previously purchased titles had disappeared – claims itch.io has denied.

The situation escalated on social media platform X, where Reist and her team were bombarded with rape threats, doxxing and abuse.

“We’ve received a deluge of threats,” said Reist, adding that police and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant are now involved.

X owner Elon Musk entered the fray, defending gamers and hinting he may launch a rival payments platform to bypass restrictions.

Critics argue Collective Shout’s campaign goes beyond protecting children, with concerns about broader censorship and a dampening effect on indie game developers.

While itch.io acknowledged the takedown was abrupt, it maintained that protecting payment partnerships was necessary for the platform’s survival.

“This decision was made to ensure we can continue supporting our creators,” the company stated.