"Game Over: The Curious Case of Horses"
The latest controversy in the world of gaming has left players and developers alike scratching their heads. Italian developer Santa Ragione's latest project, Horses, a game that tackles some of the darkest aspects of human nature, has been banned from sale on Steam and Epic Games Store, two of the largest digital storefronts for PC games.
At first glance, it may seem surprising that such a game would be met with resistance. But upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that Horses is not just about violence and gore, but about psychological horror and the uncomfortable reality of human nature.
Players take on the role of Anselmo, a young man who is sent to work on a farm where the "horses" are actually nude humans with horse heads. As Anselmo, players must perform mundane tasks such as chopping wood and picking vegetables, all while being forced to confront the dark realities of their surroundings.
The game's graphics may seem simplistic at first, but it's precisely this lack of showmanship that makes Horses so unsettling. The blurring of genitals and breasts serves as a stark reminder of the societal norms we're expected to adhere to, and the way in which these expectations can be used to control and oppress others.
But despite its uncomfortable subject matter, Horses is not about gratuitous gore or explicit violence. Instead, it's about the psychological impact that such acts have on those who are subjected to them. The game's silence, save for the occasional sound of a film camera whirring in the background, serves as a stark reminder of the way in which our perceptions can be manipulated.
The controversy surrounding Horses has sparked a wider conversation about the role of art in society, particularly when it comes to issues of violence and censorship. Some have argued that games like Horses are too graphic or disturbing for mainstream audiences, while others see them as a necessary commentary on the darker aspects of human nature.
As for Santa Ragione's allegations that the review teams at Steam and Epic Games Store failed to provide specific details about what content was at issue, it remains to be seen how this controversy will play out. One thing is certain, however: Horses has become a lightning rod for discussion on the very real issues of censorship and artistic freedom.
Ultimately, whether or not one agrees with Horses' message or medium, it's clear that this game has tapped into something profound in the collective psyche. By confronting us with uncomfortable realities, games like Horses challenge our assumptions about what is acceptable and push us to think critically about the world we live in.
The latest controversy in the world of gaming has left players and developers alike scratching their heads. Italian developer Santa Ragione's latest project, Horses, a game that tackles some of the darkest aspects of human nature, has been banned from sale on Steam and Epic Games Store, two of the largest digital storefronts for PC games.
At first glance, it may seem surprising that such a game would be met with resistance. But upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that Horses is not just about violence and gore, but about psychological horror and the uncomfortable reality of human nature.
Players take on the role of Anselmo, a young man who is sent to work on a farm where the "horses" are actually nude humans with horse heads. As Anselmo, players must perform mundane tasks such as chopping wood and picking vegetables, all while being forced to confront the dark realities of their surroundings.
The game's graphics may seem simplistic at first, but it's precisely this lack of showmanship that makes Horses so unsettling. The blurring of genitals and breasts serves as a stark reminder of the societal norms we're expected to adhere to, and the way in which these expectations can be used to control and oppress others.
But despite its uncomfortable subject matter, Horses is not about gratuitous gore or explicit violence. Instead, it's about the psychological impact that such acts have on those who are subjected to them. The game's silence, save for the occasional sound of a film camera whirring in the background, serves as a stark reminder of the way in which our perceptions can be manipulated.
The controversy surrounding Horses has sparked a wider conversation about the role of art in society, particularly when it comes to issues of violence and censorship. Some have argued that games like Horses are too graphic or disturbing for mainstream audiences, while others see them as a necessary commentary on the darker aspects of human nature.
As for Santa Ragione's allegations that the review teams at Steam and Epic Games Store failed to provide specific details about what content was at issue, it remains to be seen how this controversy will play out. One thing is certain, however: Horses has become a lightning rod for discussion on the very real issues of censorship and artistic freedom.
Ultimately, whether or not one agrees with Horses' message or medium, it's clear that this game has tapped into something profound in the collective psyche. By confronting us with uncomfortable realities, games like Horses challenge our assumptions about what is acceptable and push us to think critically about the world we live in.
It's not just about gore or explicit stuff its more about how our society makes us conform to norms and control people's behaviour. The graphics are actually super creepy and it makes u think about how we really see ppl, like how do u really look at someone w/o judging them? 
And the fact that it's banned on steam and epic games store is crazy! 
I mean, can you even blame them for banning it tho? 
Game's got some seriously dark vibes goin on... 
Not exactly the kinda thing you wanna expose minors to, ya know? 
But hey, I guess that's just part of the conversation now, right? 
We gotta talk about this stuff and make sure we're not bein' too sensitive or anything. 
Like, should we be censored for pushing boundaries or making people uncomfortable? It's a tough one. 
What do you guys think?
. For me, it feels like we're having a conversation about why certain things make us uncomfortable and how those discomforts can be productive 
. on one hand, I get why some people might find it triggering or disturbing, but on the other hand, I think it's a pretty clever way to subvert those expectations and make us question what we're supposed to be comfortable with 
i feel 4 him. hes just tryna spread a message about the psychological horror of human nature, which is somethin we need more of in our society 
these games r not just bout gore & explicit violence, its about provokin ppl 2 think bout deir own biases & societal norms 
