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Itch.io advertises itself as “a simple way to find and share indie games online for free.” As a developer who has recently attempted to publish a game on their platform, I’ve found this claim to be quite misleading. Despite the promise of
simplicity, the platform is fraught with issues that undermine its usability for developers. These include an opaque and prolonged manual review process, inaccurate publish dates, and a lack of support channels, all of which make it difficult to share games with an audience effectively.<br />
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Itch.io advertises itself as a quick and straightforward platform, but the process for making a game visible to the public is far from simple. New games undergo a mandatory manual review process before they can be seen on the site’s search pages and “Recently Uploaded” lists. While the platform suggests this process takes only a few business days, in reality, it can stretch on for months, during which time a game remains completely invisible to users.<br />
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After the manual review is finally completed, the “publish date” of the game is retroactively set to the original upload date, not the date of approval. This policy prevents games from appearing in the “Recently Uploaded” lists when they are actually made public, robbing developers of valuable early visibility for their projects.<br />
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The platform offers a support email, but emails sent to this address go unanswered. With no alternative methods for contacting support, developers are left without recourse to ask about the review process or other account-related issues.<br />
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Upon joining, users face restrictions in community forums until their accounts are deemed to be in “good standing,” which supposedly requires forum activity. However, all posts require manual approval, creating a paradoxical situation where new users cannot meaningfully engage with the community or address account concerns.<br />
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Itch.io should either modify or discontinue its advertising statement that it provides “a simple way to find and share indie games online.” Based on my experience, the platform fails to uphold this claim. Itch.io should make its manual review process and the potential for extended wait times clear on the website, so developers understand what they’re signing up for. Additionally, I ask that Itch.io adjust their publish date policy to reflect the date games are approved and made visible, so they can appear on the “Recently Uploaded” lists accordingly. Finally, improved customer support would help address these issues, allowing developers to resolve problems effectively.
Review date 2024-10-17 03:22:30
