“Even If It’s Legal, It’s Still Not Okay”: Steam Adult-Game Takedown Controversy Continues as Advocacy Group Claims Many Defenders Commit Crimes in Real Life

Around two months ago, Steam and itch.io both mass-removed adult games within a short time span. The sudden move left the scene rattled, and once the driving force was identified as Australian feminist group Collective Shout, the conflict between the two sides has continued ever since. In a recent media interview, the group issued a hardline response, stressing: “Even if it’s legal, it’s still not okay.”

In an email interview with outlet TweakTown, Collective Shout campaign manager Caitlin Roper stated plainly: “We oppose content that harms the status of women and girls, or objectifies or dehumanises them—regardless of whether it is legal.” For the group, “legality” is not the benchmark.

Collective Shout focuses on whether women and girls suffer tangible harm. They believe depictions of sexual objectification can become an inducement for men to commit violence against women. Responding to criticism that their actions amount to “censorship,” Roper countered: “Simulating or enacting rape and extreme violent fantasies against women is not anyone’s human right.” In her view, being unable to access such games on mainstream platforms is merely a minor inconvenience and does not constitute a violation of personal rights.

After pushing for takedowns of adult games, Collective Shout became a lightning rod and has faced extensive harassment. Roper said they have received death threats, had private information leaked, and even saw illegal content spread that grafted their faces onto pornographic imagery. She cited these incidents as evidence, alleging: “It’s clear that many men who defend rape games do perpetrate violence against women—because that is what they are doing right now.”

Collective Shout’s actions have not only targeted adult games involving coercion; critics say the group’s vague criteria have also affected many works unrelated to erotica, including titles with LGBTQ+ themes. Asked about legal developers suffering financial losses from delistings, Roper commented: “If Steam and itch.io properly managed their platforms in advance, there would be no need to remove games on short notice to check whether they comply with policies.”

Roper further emphasized, “Our position has always been clear—we oppose rape, incest, and child sexual abuse.” She added that the group does not intend to take responsibility for platforms’ takedown processes and said they were not involved in them. Finally, she once again called on payment processors: “Do not provide services to platforms that knowingly host and profit from ‘rape games.’”

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