Epic Games Store Bans Santa Ragione’s Horses: Controversy Over Content and NFT Policy

Epic Games Store Pulls Horses on Release Eve: What Happened?

On December 3, 2025, developers Santa Ragione were informed by Epic Games Store that their much-anticipated horror-farming simulation, Horses, would not be distributed on the platform. The ban came just 24 hours before the scheduled launch, leaving many in the indie game community stunned and sparking a wave of discussion about platform gatekeeping, censorship, and the nuanced boundaries of digital content policies.

According to reporting by Rock Paper Shotgun, Epic’s decision was attributed to violations of their Content Guidelines, specifically those regarding “Inappropriate Content” and “Hateful or Abusive Content.” Epic’s statement to the developers referenced concerns about “explicit or frequent depictions of sexual behavior” and content that might “promote abuse and animal abuse.” The review process included an international age rating questionnaire, which resulted in an “Adult Only” (AO) rating for Horses. Under Epic’s policy, AO-rated games are prohibited unless the rating is solely due to blockchain, NFT, or cryptocurrency integration — technologies which, notably, remain permitted despite their own controversies.

Inside the Ban: Policy, Visibility, and Artistic Intent

The timing and rationale of Epic’s move have left many questions unanswered. Santa Ragione claim that Epic had already approved Horses for publication nearly three weeks before launch and had access to a build for two months. The abrupt reversal, they speculate, may have been influenced more by public visibility and backlash following a similar ban by Valve’s Steam platform, than by any newly discovered issue within the game itself.

Valve’s earlier rejection centered around an unfinished build, which reviewers felt depicted “sexual conduct involving a minor.” Santa Ragione responded by clarifying the scene in question: it involved a farm supplier’s daughter riding on the shoulders of an enslaved naked woman in a horse mask. After Valve’s review, the developers altered the character to a twenty-something woman, emphasizing that the scene was intended to critique societal structures, not to arouse. Both Epic and Valve, however, failed to specify exactly which content violated their guidelines, leaving the developers facing broad, and in their view, demonstrably incorrect accusations.

Santa Ragione’s response has been unequivocal. They argue that such bans are rooted in “modern-day puritanism” and moralizing censorship, invoking a history where vague notions of decency were used to silence artists. “Games are an artistic medium and lawful works for adults should remain accessible. These bans passively shape which titles developers feel safe creating, pushing preemptive censorship,” they wrote in a public statement.

Platform Policies and the NFT Exception

The controversy is further compounded by Epic’s explicit exception for AO ratings stemming from blockchain, NFT, or cryptocurrency features. As the store’s guidelines state, games with AO ratings are only allowed if the rating is “solely due to the usage of blockchain or NFT technology.” This carve-out has drawn criticism, with observers noting the contradiction in banning challenging, artistically driven works while permitting games that incorporate technologies often associated with scams and environmental impact. The rationale, as some analysts suggest, may be less about safeguarding morality and more about managing reputation, legal risks, and profit opportunities.

In the wider context, Horses is not alone. Earlier in 2025, payment processors cracked down on adult and NSFW games, signaling a broader discomfort among corporate platforms with content that pushes social or artistic boundaries. Yet, as reported by ScreenRant, Horses remains available on alternative storefronts like GOG and Itch.io, and after a brief delisting, Humble Store relisted the game following its own review. Humble’s temporary removal appears to have been a reaction to the mounting press coverage rather than a direct policy violation.

Community Reaction and the Future of Indie Games

The ban has galvanized both supporters and critics. Horses, with its grotesque and surreal depiction of a world where people deemed immoral are treated as livestock, was always intended as a provocative, discussion-starting piece of interactive art. Its removal from major platforms has reignited debates over the rights of developers to explore difficult subjects and the responsibility of distributors to set boundaries.

For indie creators, the episode serves as a cautionary tale. While alternative platforms offer some refuge, the dominance of stores like Epic and Steam means that bans can effectively limit access to broad audiences. Santa Ragione’s experience highlights the precarious balance between creative freedom and corporate oversight in the digital marketplace.

As of now, Horses can be purchased via GOG and Itch.io, and its developers remain outspoken about the importance of keeping adult, lawfully produced games accessible to those who seek them.

Epic Games Store’s last-minute ban of Horses exposes the deep tensions between artistic expression, platform power, and the shifting lines of content moderation. As policies evolve and visibility grows, the fate of controversial art in digital gaming remains uncertain — shaped as much by public reaction as by any written guideline.