Italian indie studio Santa Ragione has escalated its dispute with the Epic Games Store after HORSES was blocked shortly before launch, with the developer publicly describing Epic’s statements about the game as “provably incorrect.” The controversy reignites a familiar debate in PC gaming: how major storefronts apply content rules, how transparent those decisions are, and what recourse developers have when a release is halted at the eleventh hour.
What is HORSES?
HORSES is a first-person psychological horror game built around a structured “two-week” progression, mixing interactive sequences with live-action (FMV) segments. The game is designed to be disturbing and confrontational, focusing on themes like obedience, complicity, and restraint rather than power fantasy or cathartic violence.
A key part of HORSES’ premise is that the “horses” are not animals in a literal sense—its horror leans on dehumanization and metaphor, presented through unsettling imagery and scenarios. Santa Ragione has repeatedly framed the project as critique, not endorsement, of abuse and violence.
Where is HORSES available?
After being blocked by some major platforms, HORSES has been sold on alternative PC storefronts, with the developer and supporters pointing players to places where it remains purchasable. The official store pages and the game’s site list availability on GOG and itch.io, and communications around launch also referenced the Humble Store as a sales channel at the time.
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itch.io (paid download page, with pricing shown on the listing)
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GOG (official product page)
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Official site hub with links and updates (horses.wtf)
GOG also publicly stated it was “proud to give HORSES a home,” framing the decision around player choice and creative support.
Why Epic Games Store banned it
Reports from December 2025 say Epic removed HORSES from distribution for alleged violations of two policy areas: “Inappropriate Content” and “Hateful or Abusive Content.” In communication shared publicly and echoed in coverage, Epic’s “Hateful or Abusive Content” rationale centered on a prohibition against content that “promotes abuse and animal abuse.”
A second major sticking point was age rating: Epic said that after filling out the IARC questionnaire based on the content it reviewed, the game received an Adults Only (AO) rating—an outcome that would disqualify it from the Epic Games Store. This AO-rating claim is central to the current dispute because Santa Ragione argues the situation was represented inaccurately and without adequate documentation.
The “provably incorrect” allegation and the unanswered questions
In February 2026, Santa Ragione responded to public comments by Epic Games Store VP Steve Allison by saying Epic made “provably incorrect statements” about HORSES’ content and refused to provide details supporting its claims. The studio also stated Epic did not provide the alleged AO IARC certificate (which Santa Ragione says should include an appeal link), and that communication eventually stopped—prompting the developer to say Epic had “effectively ghosted” them.
This matters beyond one game because it highlights the practical problem developers face when enforcement is fast, appeal paths are unclear, and the exact content triggers are not spelled out. Even if a platform has the right to curate, critics argue that a lack of specificity makes it harder to fix issues, comply, or even understand what standard was applied.
