Background of the HORSES Controversy
In early December 2025, Epic Games abruptly removed the upcoming indie title HORSES from its store, despite having previously approved a pre‑release build. The decision came just days after Valve banned the game from Steam, leaving the small Italian studio Santa Ragione without access to the two largest PC distribution platforms.
Epic’s Stated Reason: An “Adult Only” Rating
During a post‑earnings interview, Epic Games Store General Manager Steve Allison said the company “loves” Santa Ragione but that an Adult Only (AO) rating was a “dealbreaker” for publishing the game. No official AO certificate was ever provided, and Epic declined to share the evidence behind its claim.
Developer’s Rebuttal
Santa Ragione responded on BlueSky, accusing Epic of making “provably incorrect statements” and “ghosting” the studio. The developers emphasized that the game holds a PEGI 18 and ESRB M rating through the IARC system—not an AO rating. They pointed to publicly available walkthroughs on YouTube and Twitch, as well as the game’s presence on the Humble Store, as proof that the content does not meet AO standards.
What the Game Actually Contains
- Black‑and‑white psychological horror set on a farm.
- Players control “horses” – naked humans wearing permanent horse masks, treated as livestock.
- Disturbing tasks include forced labor, sexual assault, mutilation, and torture (beatings, castration).
- Content is meant to be a gut‑punch commentary on dehumanization, not explicit sexual animation.
Understanding Rating Systems
The International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) assigns ratings based on self‑reported content. In Europe, PEGI 18 denotes content suitable only for adults, while in North America, ESRB M (Mature) covers similar material. An AO rating is reserved for games with explicit sexual content or extreme violence that exceeds M/18 thresholds.
Santa Ragione argues that, despite its disturbing themes, HORSES lacks the explicit sexual animation that typically triggers an AO label, aligning it more closely with existing M/18 titles.
Industry Implications
- Platform consistency: Discrepancies between Valve’s ban and Epic’s AO claim raise questions about unified rating enforcement.
- Developer transparency: Lack of evidence from Epic undermines trust and highlights the need for clearer communication.
- Market access: AO‑rated games are effectively barred from major consoles and many digital stores, limiting indie exposure.
Conclusion
The dispute over HORSES underscores the tension between artistic expression, rating bodies, and platform policies. Until Epic provides concrete justification for an AO classification, the game’s PEGI 18/ESRB M rating remains the most credible assessment of its content.