Things are not going so well
Hello everyone, I'm so sorry to announce that the long waited v0.8 update is going to need more time in the oven. Due to recent payment processor censorship issue and following changes to Itch.io's TOS, I'm forced to make changes to some parts of My Maid Dreams of Electric Sheep.
What's happening
itch.io has started de‑indexing and removing NSFW content from their website, following pressure from payment processors such as PayPal and Stripe, as well as campaigns led by activist groups like Collective Shout.
As a result, games tagged with mature content regardless of the context are being hidden, and in some cases permanently removed. Itch.io itself acknowledged that without compliance with payment processor demands, the platform risks losing the ability to distribute games or issue payouts to creators.
As part of compliance efforts, they are auditing NSFW content, requiring confirmation that it meets processor policies, and potentially removing pages altogether.
https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content
How this affects My Maid Dreams of Electric Sheep
The game is currently tagged as adult content and includes erotic scenes, which places it squarely within the impacted category. To remain on Itch.io, I must make changes to the game's content.
Some parts of the game will be reworked to be in line with Itch.io's new TOS guideline, and Uemura Yui(convenience store clerk)'s storyline will be completely remade, and her current reworked to-be-released v0.8 storyline will be scrapped. I'll try my best to maintain the tone of the story, but depictions of potentially problematic events will be removed entirely.
List of planned changes
First H-scene with Ako(player's maid) will see some minor changes to dialogue to make the interaction seem consensual.
Ako will not be available for interaction while she is sleeping, except to wake her.
Ako's lust event will be remade to make the interaction seem consensual.
Existing Uemura Yui's storyline will be completely remade, as said above.
Why are you doing this now?
The biggest reason is the pressure on Itch.io coming from PayPal and Stripe, which are also the payment processors for Patreon. My Maid Dreams of Electric Sheep is currently my only source of income, and I can't risk it being taken down.
For the same reason, I can't afford to indefinitely delay the update or go on hiatus until the dust settles. I believe these changes are necessary to secure the future of My Maid Dreams of Electric Sheep.
As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Please don't hesitate to ask if there's something you'd like to know more about regarding the game or the current situation.
Comments (21)
A sad news, in the tide of the times, we cannot be alone. I understand your approach, and even if you choose to give up, I will not blame you. Maybe you can try to develop on Steam? Although it will be converted into a buyout system, the environment there will be slightly better, but we need to convert H content into DLC......Perhaps we will eventually make all our past dreams come to nothing, but even so, I still have hope for the future. Good luck, may we all reach the other side of our dreams.
Hey man, i understand your doing what needs to be done, but ill miss what you've changed. The story was great and really leaned into that dystopia feel. The executive order should fix things for itch, but even then I hope you'll be able to bring your vision of the game back.
Bro... Please switch to another platform. I don't want to see this game stripped of its content.
hey Dodonga not sure if you are in the states but, Just letting you know here there was an Executive Orders called, "Guaranteeing Fair Banking For All Americans" that will directly target censorship coming from the financial system. Sec. 2. Policy "It is the policy of the United States that no American should be denied access to financial services because of their constitutionally or statutorily protected beliefs, affiliations, or political views, and to ensure that politicized or unlawful debanking is not used as a tool to inhibit such beliefs, affiliations, or political views. Banking decisions must instead be made on the basis of individualized, objective, and risk-based analyses." Banks can also not deny a "customer’s political or religious beliefs, or on the basis of the customer’s or potential customer’s lawful business activities that the financial service provider disagrees with or disfavors for political reasons." There is also a Bill "S.401 - Fair Access to Banking Act" that is on its way to congress.
I understand, it's very unfortunate but necessary based on the demand they are imposing. Make it more cute and romantic when it comes to the consensual parts then. I think loving moments are good in such a grim dystopia world.
Damn I knew they were hitting some games i played but this one is like a eventual uplifted story I honestly didn't think it get hit
What i wanted to say last night but i was really tired is i don't think you have to work too hard on the bot girl because it is consensual, I mean I could get it where a couple may not seem like it, like when she's asleep specific and only that,but she seems like she loves the player and is fine with whatever the player wants to do with her,like I know you've seen her face by the end of some of those scenes,she loves it because the player is her person and wants to take care of the player's needs. People need to pull together and boycott visa,mastercard,etc to keep them out of our business, we are adults and can spend our money how we please and enjoy the content we want to enjoy, it's fantasy and not real life,it's no body's freaking business what you jerk off to,you could even say some of it is role-playing because that's a real thing too. It is beyond ridiculous we even have to deal with this and I think it's just one big distraction. We have actually freedoms. This is an infringement on thise freedoms to spend our money on adult content we want to see and play. Sign the petition that's floating around is my suggestion and show your support, keep big business out of the bedroom period.
I think you should follow what your game fans say, my friend. Because your masterpiece is already perfect the way it is, there's no need to change it. I love your game so much
I agree with everyone else here and I strongly believe that the majority if not all your followers would be willing to move their support to subscribestar. I think maybe you underestimate that loyalty of your followers. I think most of your Electric Sheep fans would follow you anywhere. We like the game that much. The way it is! I have been on and off being a paid subscriber because of my own financial situation but I didn't know this was your only source of income or how important our contributions were. I have limited resources but I would definitely lend my support if you moved and I think many others would too.
What about providing a patch via alternative ways so you are still able to work on the story you envisioned? While having the censored/safe version on itch and patreon?
I'd strongly prefer to follow You elsewhere than see You change Your work
I feel the same way, honestly it makes me really sad
Have you thought about using other platforms? Such as oppaiman. I really hate to see you have to change your creation because some whiny babies can't separate real life from fiction.
I'm already on the Oppaiman store but as far as I know, their payout process is linked to the Patreon. There aren't much of alternative maybe except SubscribeStar, but again, I'll be losing a significant number of subscribers.
I don’t think your vision of your project should be scrapped because of someone somewhere don’t want to see it…
Unfortunately for future creative content But I understand you🥲
This is ridiculous. Everyone should do their part in working against Mastercard/Visa censorship. Sign the petition, it's at 177,000 signatures so far. Notify your representatives if you live in the states. My state rep actually called back with a human person asking if I had more context I could give as they hadn't heard anything about this. Make this an absolute shitstorm for Visa/Mastercard.
I suppose it wouldn't be possible to have two versions and keep the original on some google drive?
I won't just completely scrap the current storyline. If the censorship ends, I might bring it back.
How about having a stop gap version to meet itch.io's requirements. Having a patch within patreon that can be applied to the itch.io version for something consistent to your vision of the story?
What worries me the most is that the Patreon isn't safe from this payment processor censorship. Until they stop this nonsense I have no choice but to lay low.
