Santa Ragione Faces Closure as Valve Blocks Game on Steam

Italian game developer Santa Ragione is facing significant challenges as Valve has blocked its new horror title, Horses, from being hosted on the Steam platform. The decision has placed the studio in a precarious financial position, making it difficult to recover the investment made in game development.

Financial Concerns for Santa Ragione

Santa Ragione co-founder Pietro Righi Riva expressed the dire consequences of Valve’s decision during an exclusive interview. The studio had anticipated using funds generated from Horses to cover ongoing expenses, but without access to Steam, these earnings are at risk.

Currently, the developer has allocated enough resources to support the game for six months post-launch. After this period, the financial outlook appears bleak.

The Origin of the Issue

The announcement of Horses took place in June 2023. However, just before the reveal, Valve communicated that the game would not be permitted on its platform. The studio claims it received no option to appeal this ruling.

An automated message from Valve stated, “After review, we will not be able to ship your game Horses on Steam.” The message cited concerns over the content that could be interpreted as inappropriate, particularly mentioning themes that may imply sexual conduct involving a minor.

Content and Themes of Horses

Horses is described as a short horror experience where players participate in unsettling tasks on a rural farm. The studio speculated that a scene involving a young girl and characters with horse masks may have led to Valve’s decision. Although the content was not sexual, its context may have raised red flags.

In response to the feedback from Valve, Santa Ragione modified the character in the controversial scene to be an adult, aiming to eliminate any juxtaposition that could be misinterpreted.

Alternative Distribution Channels

Despite its absence from Steam, Santa Ragione announced that Horses will still be available on several alternative platforms. These include:

• Epic Games Store
• GOG
• Itch.io
• Humble Bundle

The studio expressed its gratitude towards players and other platforms that support experimental gaming, emphasizing the growing challenges faced by such projects in the current market.

Industry Reactions

Earlier this year, Valve took steps to remove hundreds of games that violated its content guidelines, following pressure from payment processors. The UK trade body, UKIE, commented on this trend, advocating for trust in age rating systems.

Santa Ragione and industry observers are now left to contemplate the future of experimental games in a landscape that increasingly stifles creative expression. As the situation develops, Santa Ragione remains committed to delivering Horses through alternative channels while navigating these difficult waters.