Santa ragione Details Frustration with steam Ban, Fears for Team’s Future
Santa Ragione, the development team behind the recently released game Slipstream, has expressed deep frustration and concern following a ban on Steam, preventing the game’s release on the platform. In a statement, studio head Marco Riva described the experience as ”scary, humiliating, and patronizing,” citing the lack of clear reasoning for the ban despite 14 years of business with Valve.
Riva stated the ambiguous nature of the ban is fostering self-censorship among creators, explaining that not knowing what content is permissible creates a “depressing” environment, antithetical to creativity. He expressed feeling “tricked and betrayed” by Valve, noting the significant portion of the studio’s earnings Steam has received over the years, leading him to believe a level of “professional courtesy” would be extended. He felt this belief provided a “false sense of security” regarding the publishing process.
Riva criticized the opacity of Steam’s rules, contrasting it with claims of an “automatic and ‘democratic'” curation process devoid of human intervention. He also voiced concern for the game’s author, Andrea Lucco Borlera, emphasizing the emotional impact of having years of work rejected without description.
the team has been under “immense stress” while repeatedly appealing the ban, and Riva admitted to worrying that publicly criticizing Valve could lead to further repercussions. Despite these concerns, he believes the conversation is “very important,” acknowledging it exposes the team to scrutiny given the broad and serious nature of Steam’s allegations.
Despite the setback, Riva expressed relief that the team was able to complete and release Slipstream. He indicated this is highly likely to be Santa Ragione’s final project, but finds “consolation” in the game’s completion and potential to be a “strange and hopefully memorable title.”
Game Developer has contacted valve for comment.
