GOG Supports Indie Game Horses After Valve's Steam Rejection

CD Projekt's GOG platform has publicly supported the indie horror game Horses after Valve, the parent company of Steam, declined to distribute it. The Polish games marketplace announced its decision to offer pre-orders for Horses, emphasizing that players should have the freedom to choose their gaming experiences. This support comes in the wake of significant challenges faced by the game's developer, Italian studio Santa Ragione, which has expressed concerns that the rejection could lead to its closure.

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Santa Ragione submitted Horses for approval to Valve in June 2023. The game was initially rejected due to concerns regarding its content, specifically allegations that it depicted sexual conduct involving a minor. Valve stated that after reviewing the game, they communicated their decision to the developer, citing adherence to their content guidelines. Valve's internal content review team discussed the developer's request for reconsideration but ultimately upheld their decision not to host the game on Steam.

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Andrea Lucco Borlera, the director of Horses, expressed shock and disbelief at Valve's decision, highlighting the emotional and financial investment made in the project. Borlera articulated a sense of helplessness, reflecting on the potential impact of the rejection on the studio's future. Santa Ragione has indicated that the absence of Horses on Steam, which represents a significant portion of the PC gaming audience, could jeopardize the studio's viability.

GOG backs Horses after the game was blocked from Steam

A critical aspect of the situation revolves around the lack of transparency from Valve regarding the specific reasons for the rejection. Santa Ragione has criticized the communication process, stating that developers were not provided with a clear path to compliance or detailed explanations of the content that violated Steam's guidelines. This lack of clarity has been a significant point of contention for the studio, which feels that better communication could have potentially resolved the issues.

Indie Horror Game Horses Faces Steam Ban, Leaving Its Studio on the Brink of Closure

In its statement, GOG expressed pride in offering Horses a platform, asserting that players should have the autonomy to select the games they wish to play. Valve, on the other hand, defended its decision by explaining that the rejection was based on content concerns identified during the review process. They emphasized that the decision was consistent with their onboarding rules and guidelines.

GOG backs Horses after the game was blocked from Steam

Critics of Valve's decision have pointed to the broader implications for indie developers, particularly regarding the challenges they face in navigating content guidelines on major platforms. The situation raises questions about the balance between content moderation and the creative freedom of developers, especially in the indie gaming sector.

GOG backs Horses after the game was blocked from Steam

As GOG begins pre-orders for Horses, the future of Santa Ragione remains uncertain. The studio's ability to sustain itself will depend on the game's reception on GOG and the potential for future projects, as they navigate the fallout from the Steam rejection.

GOG backs Horses after the game was blocked from Steam