Indie Horror Game Horses Finds Unexpected Success After Steam Bans, but Developer Fears Lasting Impact
Rome, Italy – The unsettling indie horror game Horses, developed by Santa Ragione, has unexpectedly surged in popularity following its removal from Steam, but the studio remains deeply concerned about its long-term viability adn the chilling effect the bans may have on future creative projects. Despite finding a dedicated audience through alternative storefronts and widespread media coverage, the developer believes the potential reach of Steam remains irreplaceable.
Prior to Horses, Santa Ragione was a relatively unknown entity, having previously released Saturnalia and Milky Way Prince. The studio’s founder, Davide Riva, acknowledges the bans-stemming from Steam’s often opaque content moderation policies-have ironically been instrumental in bringing Horses to a wider audience. “There is no way the same kind of interest would have happened,” Riva stated. Borlera, the game’s creator, is reportedly “extremely happy with the reception that the game is getting,” and pleased to see players deeply engaging with its themes.
Though, this newfound attention doesn’t offset the loss of Steam’s massive user base. While grateful for support from gamers and platforms like GOG, Riva emphasizes that it’s insufficient to secure santa Ragione’s future. “Even with all the publicity, all the reporting, all the reviews, everything else,” he said, “This still does not compare to the kind of audience we would have on Steam.”
Steam’s dominance in the PC gaming market leaves indie developers notably vulnerable to Valve’s frequently criticized moderation practices, which have been described as vague, capricious, and inconsistent. The situation has led Riva to anticipate a wave of self-censorship within the indie game development community. ”I think there is going to be, in my case, and in other people’s case, a certain degree of self-censorship,” he said. ”It’s terrifying, and it’s going to make people make safer and safer games, me included.”
