# Does Horses Warrant All This Controversy? | Kurt & Lucy Gotcha Covered Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psMwbf9G0Yg Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/psMwbf9G0Yg Generated: 2025-12-06T17:40:51.407+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The controversy surrounding the game "Horses" primarily centers on its banning from storefronts like Steam and Epic Games, which the hosts argue is less about the game's adult content (which they deem comparable to other existing adult media) and more about the undue influence of payment processors and major platforms like Steam in dictating content distribution. **Key Points:** - The game "Horses" faced a preemptive ban from Steam and a subsequent ban from Epic Games on its release day, despite Humble, Itch, and Gogg agreeing to distribute it. - The developers speculate the ban stems from early builds that included a scene with naked men and women wearing masks on a farm, and a removed scene involving a child riding a horse. - Lucy notes that all nudity in "Horses" is blood-related and any sexual content is implied and never explicitly shown, contrasting it with other problematic games available on Steam. - Kurt highlights Steam's massive market share (around 70% for PC) and points out its hypocrisy, as it allows other problematic content like "Hitler games" but bans "Horses" without open discussion. - The hosts suggest the real warranted controversy lies with payment processors pressuring storefronts to drop games that do not reflect "good values," giving them dictatorial power. - The hosts muse that "Horses" may have been singled out because it does not fit neatly into existing categories of games that the censors target. - John Luke summarized Metroid Prime 4 as "Good Prime game, bad Metroid Vania" in six words, later refining it to three words: "Great." **Context:** The podcast episode of "Kurt & Lucy Got You Covered" discusses several major gaming news items, dedicating significant time to the controversy surrounding the game "Horses," which was banned from major PC storefronts. The hosts, Kurt and Lucy, delve into the game's edgy nature, its removal from Steam and Epic Games, and use this event to critique the broader issues of digital storefront censorship, platform power, and the role of payment processors in content moderation. ## Detailed Analysis The discussion pivots around the banning of the game "Horses" from Steam and Epic Games, with Lucy having played it on Epic before it was pulled. The developers provided a Q&A explaining that the game, which carries 18+ ratings and many trigger warnings, might have been preemptively banned due to early build content, specifically mentioning a farm scene with masked naked people and a removed scene involving a child on a horse. Kurt points out that Steam, controlling 70% of the PC market, refuses to communicate with the developers, while simultaneously hosting other highly problematic content. Lucy argues that the adult content in "Horses" is less graphic than other available material, noting nudity is only blood-related and sexual content is implied. The core argument shifts to the role of payment processors pressuring storefronts, citing examples like Only Fans, suggesting this external pressure dictates which games survive. Kurt speculates "Horses" was targeted because it exists in a unique artistic space, perhaps comparing its intent to A24 films rather than gratuitous 80s slasher films. The hosts conclude that the controversy warrants discussion regarding storefront censorship and the immense power wielded by platforms like Steam, rather than being solely about the game's inherent content. Other segments included John Luke reviewing Metroid Prime 4 (rating it an 8/10), speculating on a mysterious rock in the desert (possibly involving Dwayne Johnson), designing a dream Hitman 4 level (E3/Convention setting), discussing massive game install sizes and the compression work of Nixie, praising the Elden Ring Bingo challenge run, and recommending non-gaming media like music and TV shows. ### Horses Ban Controversy - Game banned preemptively by Steam and on release day by Epic Games - Developers blame early content featuring masked figures and a removed child/horse scene - All nudity is blood-related, sexual content is implied, not shown - Hosts criticize Steam for lack of communication despite massive market control ### Storefront Censorship Critique - Controversy stems from payment processors pressuring storefronts based on perceived values - Kurt notes Steam hosts other problematic games, questioning where the line is drawn - The game's artistic intent, likened to A24 films, may place it outside typical banned categories ### Metroid Prime 4 Review - John Luke gave it an 8/10 overall score - Atmosphere, art direction, storytelling, combat, and boss battles are excellent - The open-world hub and characters are less successful features ### The Desert Rock Mystery - Speculation surrounds a mysterious rock in the desert tweeted about by Jeff Kelley, possibly involving Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson - Guesses included Elder Scrolls 6, God of War, Diablo, and Path of Exile, though some were ruled out ### Dream Hitman Level - Kurt suggests a level set at a gaming convention like E3 or PAX for maximum meta opportunities - Lucy proposes an old folks home/bingo night setting inspired by Midsummer Murders, with Agent 47 reading bingo numbers ### Install Size Discussion - Nixie helped reduce Helldivers 2 PC install size from 154 GB down to 23 GB - The team played Guess The Install Size, estimating games like God of War Ragnarok (65 GB estimate vs 190 GB actual) and Digital Combat Simulator (217 GB estimate vs 312 GB base) ### Extreme Challenge Runs - Lucy champions Elden Ring Bingo as the coolest challenge format, involving a 5x5 grid of objectives where players race for a line - Kurt prefers simpler challenges, citing a player who beat a game using a banana as a controller ### Touch Grass Recommendations - Kurt is reading Project Hail Mary and Neuromancer, and listening to Health and Roselia - Lucy is starting Law & Order SVU and discovered Ice T's band Body Count released a Grammy-winning metal track in 2020