"Horses" Controversy: Steam Ban Raises Questions About Censorship in Gaming Industry
The recent ban of Italian developer Santa Ragione's latest project, Horses, from sale on both Steam and the Epic Games Store has sparked a heated debate about censorship in the gaming industry. Despite its edgy content, including themes of physical violence, psychological abuse, and slavery, some argue that the game's release was not as shocking or radical as initially thought.
Developed by Santa Ragione, the award-winning developer behind MirrorMoon EP and Saturnalia, Horses follows Anselmo, a 20-year-old Italian man sent to spend the summer working on a farm. However, it quickly becomes apparent that this is no ordinary farm, with "horses" - nude humans wearing horse heads - held in captivity.
Gameplay is slow-paced, focusing on mundane tasks such as chopping wood and picking vegetables, which are contrasted with gruesome and unsettling events, including finding a dead body hanging from a tree. While the game's graphics may seem simplistic at times, they effectively convey the sense of unease and discomfort that pervades the experience.
Valve Corporation stated in 2023 that Horses' content was reviewed, citing concerns about onboarding rules and guidelines. Later, Epic Games Store cited violations of their Content Guidelines, including "Inappropriate Content" and "Hateful or Abusive Content," but failed to provide specific details.
The controversy has led some to question the role of censorship in the gaming industry, with many arguing that Horses is not as shocking or radical as initially thought. The game's slow-burning tension and psychological horror approach rather than explicit gore may have contributed to its relative lack of impact.
The ban on Horses has sparked a broader conversation about video games as art and the limits of censorship in the industry. As Santa Ragione alleged, there were no specifics provided by Epic Games Store regarding what content was at issue, raising questions about transparency and consistency in review processes.
In the end, it remains to be seen whether Horses will be released on other platforms or if its ban serves as a warning to developers pushing boundaries in their work. One thing is certain: the debate surrounding censorship in gaming has taken center stage, with far-reaching implications for artistic expression and creative freedom.
The recent ban of Italian developer Santa Ragione's latest project, Horses, from sale on both Steam and the Epic Games Store has sparked a heated debate about censorship in the gaming industry. Despite its edgy content, including themes of physical violence, psychological abuse, and slavery, some argue that the game's release was not as shocking or radical as initially thought.
Developed by Santa Ragione, the award-winning developer behind MirrorMoon EP and Saturnalia, Horses follows Anselmo, a 20-year-old Italian man sent to spend the summer working on a farm. However, it quickly becomes apparent that this is no ordinary farm, with "horses" - nude humans wearing horse heads - held in captivity.
Gameplay is slow-paced, focusing on mundane tasks such as chopping wood and picking vegetables, which are contrasted with gruesome and unsettling events, including finding a dead body hanging from a tree. While the game's graphics may seem simplistic at times, they effectively convey the sense of unease and discomfort that pervades the experience.
Valve Corporation stated in 2023 that Horses' content was reviewed, citing concerns about onboarding rules and guidelines. Later, Epic Games Store cited violations of their Content Guidelines, including "Inappropriate Content" and "Hateful or Abusive Content," but failed to provide specific details.
The controversy has led some to question the role of censorship in the gaming industry, with many arguing that Horses is not as shocking or radical as initially thought. The game's slow-burning tension and psychological horror approach rather than explicit gore may have contributed to its relative lack of impact.
The ban on Horses has sparked a broader conversation about video games as art and the limits of censorship in the industry. As Santa Ragione alleged, there were no specifics provided by Epic Games Store regarding what content was at issue, raising questions about transparency and consistency in review processes.
In the end, it remains to be seen whether Horses will be released on other platforms or if its ban serves as a warning to developers pushing boundaries in their work. One thing is certain: the debate surrounding censorship in gaming has taken center stage, with far-reaching implications for artistic expression and creative freedom.
like its not even that deep lol it's just some dude doing chores on a farm and stuff gets weird but not like you know what's gonna happen or anything. censorship is just soooo overrated, devs should be able to push boundaries without being held back by "rules" 
. Don't get me wrong, it's a cleverly crafted game and all that, but come on, it's just so... graphic 
. I mean, who needs to see a dead body hanging from a tree in a game? It feels like they're pushing boundaries for the sake of being edgy 
. It's just a slow-paced horror game with some weird stuff thrown in. I'm all for artistic expression and creative freedom, but there's a time and a place for everything 
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, and that's what matters 
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! I mean, come on, a game that's supposed to be thought-provoking and uncomfortable? That's what we need more of – not some watered-down crap that's only going to spark outrage from the masses. The whole thing feels like a huge overreaction 
...and can someone please explain what exactly is wrong with the graphics? I mean, it's just simple stuff – they're not even trying to be realistic, they're more like... eerie and unsettling 
. And another thing, what's with all these vague guidelines and no specifics? It's like they're hiding behind some nebulous nonsense 
, but that's kinda the point, right? It's a commentary on some pretty dark themes like slavery and abuse... and yeah, there are horses in the background that aren't actually horses 
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I guess the real question is, where do we draw the line between art and... well, not art? 
. I mean, come on, it's not like it's promoting some dark agenda or anything 
. The whole "horses" thing is just a metaphor for something deeper, you know? It's like, the game is trying to say something about the human condition and our relationship with power and control 
. The gaming industry needs more games like Horses, that challenge our assumptions and make us think 
seriously though, can't these devs just make what they want without having to justify every little thing? it's gaming, not art school