Zoom Platform and retro titles like GTA and Duke Nukem are at risk, following Steam games ban

The gaming industry has become a target for payment processors, who have forced the removal of titles with adult content. First, Valve complied with requests to delist a large number of Steam games. Then, over 20,000 independent titles with mature themes disappeared from Itch.io. Zoom Platform, which focuses on DRM-free retro games, seems to be next in line. However, it has no intentions of censoring popular entries to the GTA and Duke Nukem series.

Zoom Platform recently posted an announcement on its website, explaining the situation. The marketplace detailed an interaction with a payment processor. According to the site, a “fellow member of the industry” expressed concerns about some of its retro games. Presumably, the games in question feature adult content, like many of the titles removed from other platforms. It's working with PayPal and Stripe to find a solution.

To protect customers, Zoom Platform now offers two-factor authentication during checkout. Also, a virtual wallet will enable buyers to add and withdraw funds without using credit cards to purchase individual titles. As with Itch.io, it’s exploring alternative payment providers with fewer restrictions on mature content.

The marketplace emailed GamingOnLinux, providing additional details. Grand Theft Auto, Saints Row, and Duke Nukem titles are among the retro games at risk, even if the store doesn’t currently sell all of them.

Gamers have blamed advocacy groups like Collective Shout for influencing payment processors. The Australian organization objects to any games or movies that it views as demeaning to women or girls. Notably, it previously fought to ban Grand Theft Auto V, so any DRM-free GTA game with similar themes is likely to be a focal point.

Major credit cards, such as Mastercard, insist they only object to purchases involving illegal content. That hasn’t silenced critics, who worry that all games with legal NSFW or adult content may face censorship.