Under recent pressure from payment processors like credit card companies, Steam and itch.io platforms have seen a mass removal of adult-oriented titles. This has sparked fears that such censorship might soon bleed into mainstream M-rated titles like GTA.

Zoom Platform, a site mostly catering to retro classics, revealed on the 2nd that a payment processor had expressed concerns over their library, forcing them to scramble for alternatives. The team at Zoom Platform made it clear: they have no intention of bowing to pressure to delete any titles. Instead, they are exploring two-factor authentication, a wallet system, and various alternative payment methods to protect freedom of expression and artistic integrity.

A representative from Zoom Platform told GamingOnLinux via email that they expect the purge to widen. According to discussions with payment system providers like PayPal and Stripe—rather than Visa and Mastercard—the representative noted that games such as the GTA series, Duke Nukem, and Saints Row could also be potentially on the chopping block.

This situation is tied to the activities of Collective Shout, an Australian activist group. Back in 2014, Collective Shout campaigned to ban GTA 5 from Australian retailers, claiming the game 'encourages players to brutally murder women.' Given this history, it is hardly surprising that the group is now leveraging credit card companies to squeeze platforms, putting mainstream hits like GTA directly in their crosshairs.

However, there is pushback against this heavy-handed corporate censorship. Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer proposed a bill to prohibit financial institutions—including credit card issuers and payment processors—from unilaterally terminating services to legal businesses, especially game developers relying on government loan programs. This legislation aims to stop financial entities from acting as moral arbiters beyond their remit. Additionally, a petition against these credit card company practices, started by a user named 'Zero Ryoko' on July 18th, has gained significant traction, reaching 236,000 signatures as of the 6th.