GOG and Game Publishers Launch FreedomToBuy.games

censorship, gaming, GOG, itch.io, Steam

The censorship in gaming conversation continues to spark concern from many members of the gaming community. Previously we covered the IGDA’s statement on the delisting and censorship of games. As of yesterday, new fighters have joined the fray.

GOG is coming out strong with their statement.

On August 1, 2025, GOG shared their intention to fight back by launching FreedomToBuy.games, a collaborative effort with game developers who are facing stated censorship. As with any other games that have been listed on the GOG platform, once you claim these games, you can keep them.

Clicking the titles that are part of this project will bring you to this warning.

This project is a 48 hour only project with 13 titles that are available for free. These titles are all considered NSFW titles that are under fire from the censorship that has popped up on Steam and itch.io.In fact, some of these games may also already be blocked in your home country. GOG thanks the publishers and developers of the following games who have joined this initiative:

Again, these are NSFW titles, so view at your own risk. The conversation regarding censorship in games will likely continue as many are joining the discourse on all sides. In fact, recently Mastercard released a statement to clarify their roles in this. However, with the advocacy group Collect Shout stating they lobbied payment processors, their stories do not line up. What we can see, is that the calls from gamers, developers, and anyone else looking to get involved, is making these payment processors take notice.

Mastercard releases statement clarifying headlines on gaming content. "Mastercard has not evaluated any game or required restrictions of any activity on game creator sites and platforms, contrary to media reports and allegations. Our payment network follows standards based on the rule of law. Put simply, we allow all lawful purchases on our network. At the same time, we require merchants to have appropriate controls to ensure Mastercard cards cannot be used for unlawful purchases, including illegal adult content." — Mastercard has not evaluated any restrictions, or so they say.

It feels like this fight is far from over on both sides. We will continue to monitor the situation and share updates as they become available. No matter what your view, as a gamer, it’s best to be sure you’re in the know. So be sure to follow Gamer Social Club for all your gaming related news.