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Steam Mischaracterizing Indie Game As Porn Works Out In The End
Kotaku • • technology
Key Points:
- Nighthawks, a narrative-focused vampire RPG by Wadjet Eye Games, was initially given an adults-only rating by Steam just days before its September 22 launch, severely limiting its visibility and availability in some countries.
- Steam’s adults-only rating system has been criticized for inconsistent enforcement and poor communication with developers, as seen previously with other games like Future? No Thanks! and Horses.
- Creator Richard Cobbett noted the content triggering the rating was minimal, involving some censored nudity in romance scenes, contrasting with Steam’s promotion of explicit third-party content on its platform.
- After public outcry, Steam reversed the adults-only rating for Nighthawks, restoring its discoverability and allowing the game to launch as planned.
- Wadjet Eye Games founder Dave Gilbert described the experience as terrifying but ultimately positive, as it increased awareness of the game despite the initial challenges.
