Steam blocks political horror game Horses by Santa Ragione

Valve's Steam platform has refused to distribute Horses, a political horror game by Andrea Lucco Borlera and the Italian studio Santa Ragione (known for Saturnalia and Mediterranea Inferno), citing vague content guidelines. The game, which explores themes of family trauma, puritan values, authoritarian regimes, fragile masculinity, and personal responsibility within power structures, was rejected based on an early provisional build without possibility of appeal. Santa Ragione co-founder Pietro Righi Riva criticized the opacity of Steam's rules, which prevent a fair review process. The rejection has also scared off publishers, forcing the studio to self-fund and take small loans, risking closure. Additionally, Horses was excluded from the Epic Games Store and temporarily suspended on Humble Bundle. The situation exemplifies 'financial censorship,' where payment processors like PayPal, Visa, and MasterCard pressure platforms to remove content. Righi Riva stated that such decisions reveal an anti-art perspective, viewing games only as products. Despite the challenges, Horses is available on GOG, itch.io, and Humble Bundle. The studio plans to create less transgressive work in the future.