During the last weeks and days, two of the world’s most important payment networks, Visa and MasterCard, have been in the eye of controversy. this more precisely with gamers, and that is that several platforms for the sale of videogames, such as Steam and itch.io, they have had to Delete several of your games. In particular, those who had to eliminate were those with content h or explicit, in a battle that unleashed all kinds of statements. From Visa and MasterCard mentioning that they did not ask for this, to the platforms stating that this is a lie. The debate has grown in the networks due to censorship in video games.
Censorship in video games wants to become a reality
The controversial measure began a few weeks ago when the Australian group Collective Shout He started a campaign to eliminate all kinds of video game of “explicit” content. a measure that would not seem to get much, became a reality when two of the most important payment networks such as they are Visa and MasterCard They asked platforms like Steam and itch.io delete these types of games. Quickly, the controversy ignited in the networks, especially because of what censorship in the world of video games and the attack on the same players would mean.
The censorship not only limited to Australia, but also countries like Uk and United states They had their own campaigns. In the end so much Steam as itch.io They had to delete a lot of content of this type. Even itch.io, to avoid having even more problems and that everything is solved faster, eliminated its section with these games.
Visa and MasterCard claim not to ask to delete the content
And in recent days, to continue increasing the controversy in a case that has gone viral in itself, the payment networks went out to talk. In a few words, both Visa as MasterCard They assured that they did not ask these platforms to eliminate the games. They mention that they would never implement any blockade for the morality of each purchase. They only avoid and analyze so that their means are not used to buy illegal things.
But this was taken as a big lie by users. And it is that the same Steam, in official media, mentioned how they were notified that certain games on the platform could violate the rules and standards established by payment networks. Therefore, they had to withdraw these types of games. Until Valve He contacted MasterCard At his time to fix the problem, he would confirm even more that they were aware. For his part, itch.io He wasn’t silent either. not only confirmed that Visa and MasterCard asked to withdraw those games, but also mentioned Collective Shout.
The double rod of Visa and Mastercard was also in evidence
And although so much Visa as MasterCard They moved quickly to avoid more problems with groups like Collective Shout, apparently they are not always handled like this. The players, as a measure to demonstrate the double yardstick of these companies, used a very strong counterattack. This is how in the pages where people sell H and explicit content, just like what would look like in a game, but in real life, there are no problems there.
Neither of the two pay networks have been alerted when users use their cards to buy even more “strong” photos or videos than those games. With this, users do not criticize those who buy. What they criticize is how Visa or MasterCard, before losing a great source of money such as those pages, they prefer not to make judgment.
The fight against censorship continues
There is still a long way to go for the decision. There were many users who were against it, and even great websites and developers showed their concern. An example of a site that launched a campaign against this censorship was GOG. He launched a campaign a few days ago where they were giving away several games, which had been removed or from content H. In addition, hundreds of players began to look for other types of payment methods so as not to use Visa or MasterCard. This thus generating more losses to the payment networks.
The fight against censorship in video games continues, and although Visa and MasterCard They already showed which side they are on, the players still have a lot to fight. Now it will only be possible to wait for the days to learn how the case will continue and if this can really be solved or continue to get more and more complicated.
