“Just too gay” - Robert Yang is battling censorship to launch a collection of his award-winning games on Steam and Itch, and it’s completely free

Award-winning indie developer Robert Yang has released Radiator Forever, a free collection of his experimental short-form games now available on Steam and Itch.io. The collection features titles including The Tearoom, Hurt Me Plenty, Succulent, Stick Shift, and Rinse and Repeat—games known for their direct engagement with LGBTQ+ themes and sexuality.

Yang launched the collection amid growing frustration with platform censorship policies. In commentary on the release, he highlighted the inconsistency facing adult game creators: mainstream titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur’s Gate 3 feature explicit content without restriction, while his games face increasing barriers. Yang stated: “Valve loves it when Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur’s Gate 3 throw customizable genitals at you in the first five minutes, but of course I can’t.”

The release addresses systemic challenges in the industry. Payment processor restrictions and recently enacted UK legislation targeting adult games have made it significantly harder for experimental gay games to maintain presence on major platforms. Yang emphasized the futility of compliance efforts, noting that “compliance-in-advance is never enough to appease a zealous censor.” He criticized Valve for avoiding nuanced conversation about content moderation, suggesting the company applies blanket policies without consideration of artistic merit or context.

Despite these obstacles, Yang’s decision to release Radiator Forever for free—across both Steam and independent platform Itch.io—demonstrates his commitment to preserving and sharing his work regardless of platform restrictions.

“Just too gay” - Robert Yang is battling censorship to launch a collection of his award-winning games on Steam and Itch, and it’s completely free

Sources