Itch.io Calls Steam "Ridiculous" for Recent Guideline Change

Valve, owner and operator of the largest online game distribution service, Steam, recently announced a change in their submission guidelines. This new change has not only prompted heavy complaints by the online community, but even attracted the criticism of the founder of Itch.io.

In a blog post, Valve announced that Steam will "allow everything onto the Steam Store, except for things that we decide are illegal, or straight up trolling." Due to this happening shortly after the recent controversy revolving around lewd graphic novels being at risk of suspension years after their initial release.

While many individuals fear that this will lead to a flood of poorly made content quickly hashed out from pre-made assets, Itch.io founder Leaf Corcoran is more concerned with the allowance of toxic behavior embodied in games being allowed on the market.

"A platform that allows 'everything, unless it's illegal or straight up trolling' is ridiculous. Please keep your malicious, derogatory, discriminatory, bullying, harassing, demeaning content off [itch.io]. Our ban buttons are ready.
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It's sad that most of the people in that thread are worried about asset flips. What about the fact that Valve is effectively authorizing toxic people to exist on their platform? It's so out of touch."

Steam has a long established problem with moderating their Steam Marketplace. Many times there have been grossly offensive content promoted on the platform that was only removed once the userbase complained, and the news media reported on it. This new declaration is, in a sense, them saying that they're going to keep allowing it anyway.