Steam's recent ban of Horses, a latest Italian indie game, has reignited heated debates on censorship in the gaming industry. But what exactly are people so upset about? The answer lies not with the gameplay or graphics, but rather with what Santa Ragione left out – namely, explicit content deemed too disturbing for mainstream platforms.
Developer Santa Ragione unveiled Horses as a thought-provoking indie game that explores themes of psychological abuse and domestic violence. But the more it delves into these complex subjects, the less explicit they become. Blurred-out genitalia and breasts are all you get to see, leaving some questioning the true nature of this experience.
The ban has certainly not stunted sales at itch.io and GOG, two platforms that have taken a liking to Horses despite the controversy surrounding it. But for those left outside of these alternatives, the ban raises an interesting point – where does artistic freedom end and censorship begin?
It's worth noting that Steam banned Horses in 2023 due to concerns over its content. However, developer Santa Ragione expressed regret at not receiving clear explanations on what specific content had breached guidelines. This ambiguity highlights a delicate issue within the gaming industry: how can developers be held accountable for pushing boundaries while maintaining creative freedom?
Critics have dubbed this an example of the "video game as art" debate, one that pits artistic expression against consumer taste and sensibility. As we continue to engage with Horses and discuss its merits, it's also clear that there's a broader conversation taking place about what constitutes acceptable content in our media.
On one hand, Horses offers an uncomfortable yet thought-provoking experience for players who are willing to confront dark themes head-on. And while it may not be the most shocking or groundbreaking title out there, its impact lies more with the audience than with explicit gore and graphic violence.
Ultimately, Horses will forever hold itself apart as a difficult game that defies genre definitions – part psychological horror, part thought-provoking drama, and all artistic expression. Whether you'll join Santa Ragione in embracing this challenging, unsettling experience is up to you.
Developer Santa Ragione unveiled Horses as a thought-provoking indie game that explores themes of psychological abuse and domestic violence. But the more it delves into these complex subjects, the less explicit they become. Blurred-out genitalia and breasts are all you get to see, leaving some questioning the true nature of this experience.
The ban has certainly not stunted sales at itch.io and GOG, two platforms that have taken a liking to Horses despite the controversy surrounding it. But for those left outside of these alternatives, the ban raises an interesting point – where does artistic freedom end and censorship begin?
It's worth noting that Steam banned Horses in 2023 due to concerns over its content. However, developer Santa Ragione expressed regret at not receiving clear explanations on what specific content had breached guidelines. This ambiguity highlights a delicate issue within the gaming industry: how can developers be held accountable for pushing boundaries while maintaining creative freedom?
Critics have dubbed this an example of the "video game as art" debate, one that pits artistic expression against consumer taste and sensibility. As we continue to engage with Horses and discuss its merits, it's also clear that there's a broader conversation taking place about what constitutes acceptable content in our media.
On one hand, Horses offers an uncomfortable yet thought-provoking experience for players who are willing to confront dark themes head-on. And while it may not be the most shocking or groundbreaking title out there, its impact lies more with the audience than with explicit gore and graphic violence.
Ultimately, Horses will forever hold itself apart as a difficult game that defies genre definitions – part psychological horror, part thought-provoking drama, and all artistic expression. Whether you'll join Santa Ragione in embracing this challenging, unsettling experience is up to you.
. I mean, if Horses is making people think and feel something real, even if it's not everyone's cup of tea, isn't that what art's supposed to do? At the same time, I get why some ppl might be hesitant around explicit content – we've got enough crazy stuff in the world already 
. But can't we just have a more nuanced conversation about what makes something "acceptable" instead of just banning it outright? It's like... steam's got to find that balance between creative freedom and, you know, not traumatizing their users 
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steam just made the decision not to host it on their platform cuz they got complaints, but thats kinda the thing - ppl r getting worked up over what they feel is too much, when really its all about individual tolerance 
its also a question of how far games should go in pushing boundaries creatively... some devs do it for artistry others just 4 shock value 
. Like, it's an indie game and it's supposed to be edgy, right? But at the same time, I kinda get why some people would find it disturbing... *scratches head* Wait, no, I'm saying that too much, but like, what if we're just expecting too much from games? 
but honestly if u r gonna play a game about abuse & domestic violence it should probably have some actual depic btw its not like santa ragione hid anythin too extreme 
. It's a indie game that tackles some heavy stuff but still manages to be kinda ambiguous about what's actually happening. The ban is more about Steam's overcautiousness than anything else imo 
people need to talk more about these kinds of issues, not just when games are super edgy and provocative, but when they're actually tryin' to tackle real problems in a thought-provoking way. We should be havin' this chat all the time! 
anyway its def not like they're protecting us from too much gore or anything its just that they dont wanna be associated with a game thats kinda hard to play lol what even is the diff btw art and censorship tho?
#GamingIndustryDilemma 
. I think what's really going on here is that gamers have different levels of tolerance for, like, intense stuff 
#CensorshipDebate 
. And yeah, the fact that Steam banded it in 2023 without clear explanation from the devs is pretty shady 
. As a gamer, I think it's cool when devs push boundaries and challenge us to confront some heavy stuff 
. But at the same time, we gotta consider what's reasonable for our fellow gamers who might not be down with that kind of content 
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I think it's wild how people are so against the game just cuz of what's not shown vs what actually happens. I mean, have u played games like Amnesia or Silent Hill? Those are super scary and disturbing but u don't see a lot in terms of gore either... just your imagination running wild lol. Anyway, i think it's cool that there are these indie devs out there pushing boundaries and making us uncomfortable. It keeps things fresh and makes us think about stuff we might not have considered before 
. Like Horses, it's exploring dark stuff but no one sees anything juicy 
. It's all about the mental abuse and emotional pain 
. Can't blame developers for wanting to express themselves through art 
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. Some games are just too much, you know? But if it's thought-provoking and gets us thinking about real-life issues 
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. It's not always easy for everyone to handle, but hey, if it's good art, it should be allowed to exist 
i'm all for artistic freedom and pushing boundaries, but is there a way to do it without making others uncomfortable? 
also, isn't it weird that the game was banned on steam but still doing okay on other platforms? 
what's going on with that? 
. I mean, can we even call it a "game" if there's no explicit content? It just feels like Steam is being all judgy and restrictive 
. I think it's great when devs push boundaries and take risks, as long as they're not being all sketchy about what's going on in their game 
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