The developer claims sales were refused without a clear reason, while the platform claims it violated its policies.
Epic Games and Steam’s opaque review standards spark debate over freedom of expression in the indie game industry.
Despite controversy, the game sold 18,000 copies, but gamers and critics criticized it for “excessive censorship.”
Controversy surrounding “Horses,” a horror game by Italian indie developer Santa Ragione, has been brewing for months. While both Epic Games and Steam have refused to sell the game, the developers’ and platform’s conflicting claims have sparked a debate over censorship in the gaming industry.
Epic Games: “It doesn’t fit our policies.”
Epic Games recently addressed the issue in an interview with gaming media outlet Game File. Vice President Steve Allison explained, “After reviewing the game internally, we determined that it violates Epic’s policies in several areas.”
The Epic Games Store has a policy of not selling games rated Adults Only (AO). However, games that receive an AO rating solely due to their use of technologies like blockchain or NFTs are exempt.
Horses was also banned from Steam for similar reasons, but is still available on GOG and itch.io.
Developer: “They won’t even give a specific reason.”
The developers are strongly protesting. Studio director Pietro Rigiriva criticized Epic on social media, saying, “Epic made blatantly false claims about the game’s content, didn’t provide specific reasons, and didn’t even show proof of the AO rating.”
According to Reba, he received a notice from Epic the day before launch on December 1st of last year, stating that the game violated their “inappropriate content” and “hateful or offensive content” policies.
The developer appealed the decision within 28 minutes, stating, “All nudity in the game has been completely pixelated, and there is absolutely no content that promotes cruelty or animal abuse.” However, even after a second review, Epic offered “no further explanation,” according to Riva.
What on earth is the game about?
Horses is a first-person horror adventure game, approximately two hours long. It explores weighty themes such as familial wounds, strict morals, authoritarian power, and personal responsibility.
The game centers on the bizarre events that Anselmo, a college student, encounters while working on a remote farm for 14 days at his parents’ request. The central setting is a farm where naked people wearing horse masks are treated like livestock. The game’s black-and-white graphics, silent film-style subtitles, and live-action video (FMV) combine to create a surreal horror experience.
At the center of the controversy is a scene where a man and his young daughter visit a farm. When the young girl says, “I want to ride a horse,” the player can grant permission. This results in the girl riding atop a naked adult woman. The developers claimed there was no sexual intent in the scene, but the scene was subsequently edited.
While the game’s premise itself is shocking, critics who have actually played the game have said that Steam and Epic’s refusal to sell it is excessive.
In its review, gaming publication Kotaku said, “The game is shocking, but not as graphic as the platform claims.” Some critics said it was “on par with an A24 horror film” and “unsettling, but not overly so.”
Despite this, the game sold.
Despite controversy surrounding the game’s rejection by two major platforms, Horses became a bestseller on GOG and itch.io. As of December 2025, it had sold approximately 18,000 copies and generated $65,000 in net revenue.
This amount was enough to pay off the money borrowed for development costs, but it was not enough to fund new games.
“The controversy helped with publicity and sales,” Riva said, adding, “It’s a shame because I don’t know how many more people it would have reached if it had been on Steam.”
Between the survival of indie games and freedom of expression
The Horses incident has implications beyond simply refusing to sell a single game. With Steam dominating over 70% of the PC gaming market, the platform’s refusal to sell is effectively a death sentence for indie game developers.
A particular problem is the lack of transparency in the review criteria. Developers are unable to clearly identify the specific problematic aspects or even how to fix them. This creates an environment where creators are forced to engage in self-censorship.
In the case of Santa Ragione, the controversy actually brought attention and a certain level of sales, but not every indie game can experience such “unintended” fortune. Most small developers struggle to even find a way to promote their games without Steam.
Games are now recognized as a form of art and culture, transcending mere entertainment. Like film and literature, they should also have the right to explore uncomfortable and challenging topics. However, if a small number of large platforms control content without clear standards, games will inevitably remain a medium that only produces “safe” content.
The Horses controversy highlights the challenges the gaming industry must overcome to mature. Finding a reasonable balance between responsible platform review and creators’ freedom of expression will continue to be a contentious issue.
Horses is currently available for purchase on GOG, itch.io, and the official website. The developer has requested review from Steam and Epic Games, but neither platform has changed its position.
