Horses: New Friction Between Santa Ragione and Epic Games
The ban of the controversial horror game is still causing debate
We return to the case of Horses. As you may recall, the horror game developed by the Italian studio Santa Ragione was banned from the digital storefronts Steam and Epic Games Store, due to content that allegedly violated their guidelines. This incident sparked a broader discussion about digital distribution and censorship, which we addressed in a dedicated special. Approximately two months after the events, the parties involved have returned to discuss the matter.
Santa Ragione's Accusations
The casus belli is an interview by journalist Stephen Totilo with Epic Games about the Horses case, which did not go unnoticed by Santa Ragione. The Italian studio accused Epic Games of making incorrect statements about the content of Horses, of not having received the AO IARC certificate, which normally contains a link where the developer can appeal, and generally of having been ignored by Epic Games.
Epic made provably incorrect statements about the game’s content, refused to provide details supporting their claims, and has not shared their claimed AO IARC certificate, which normally includes a link for the developer to appeal. They do not ‘love that studio’, they have effectively ghosted us
— Santa Ragione (@santaragione.com) Feb 7, 2026 at 12:44
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IARC stands for International Age Rating Coalition, which is a standard content classification system for video games. AO stands for Adult Only, which is the certification Epic Games attributed to Horses and which prevented its publication on the digital store. Epic Games Store responded to Santa Ragione's accusations, confirming its previously held position.
Epic Games' Response
Through senior communications manager Brian Sharon (via GamesRadar), Epic Games stated that its team found prohibited content in Horses after testing the game, and the AO IARC rating was issued after completing a specific questionnaire. Santa Ragione was reportedly informed of the decision, and following the developer's appeal, Epic Games conducted a new review, reaching the same conclusions. The AO IARC certificate is missing because an official request was not made.