In a surprising twist, CD Projekt’s GOG has stepped up to support the indie game Horses after it was banned by Valve from appearing on Steam. This indie first-person horror game, featuring live-action sequences, takes place on a horse farm shrouded in mystery. Over a span of 14 days, players encounter challenging scenarios that test their limits as they navigate the farm’s chilling secrets.
Valve’s Decision and Its Impact
Reports suggest that Horses is gearing up for a December 2 release on platforms such as the Epic Games Store, GOG, Itch.io, and the Humble Store. However, it will not be available on Steam, as Valve has firmly decided against its release there. The decision has left the Italian developer, Santa Ragione, at a significant risk of closure due to Steam’s overwhelming influence in the PC gaming market. Valve clarified that their choice is binding, stating that after careful review, Horses did not meet their guidelines. Although the developer appealed for a reconsideration, Valve’s internal team ultimately upheld its original stance.
GOG Rallies Support for Horses
GOG has expressed pride in offering a platform for Horses, launching pre-orders and promoting the game across its homepage and social media channels. “We’re proud to give Horses a home on GOG, giving players another way to enjoy the game,” a GOG statement reads. “To support the Santa Ragione studio in this difficult time, we’ve decided to launch pre-orders on Horses today — grab yours and celebrate their creativity!” Meanwhile, Santa Ragione’s Pietro Righi Riva has called upon fellow developers to unite in seeking more transparency from major platforms like Steam.
He emphasized that the current market environment, dominated by a few key players, should not only focus on the industry’s commercial success but also nurture artistic creativity.
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