Epic Games Store Refutes Claim It 'Ghosted' Horses Developer, and Insists It Gave 'Context Around the Policies They Violated'

Epic Games has addressed the allegations claiming it issued "provably incorrect statements" concerning the indie horror title Horses, affirming that it maintained clear communication with developer Santa Ragione regarding the game's inability to be sold on the Epic Games Store as initially intended. Horses is an indie first-person horror game featuring live-action sequences set on a horse farm, scheduled for a December 2025 launch. Players engage in a 14-day experience that challenges their obedience, complicity, and restraint, confronting the farm's terrifying realities through a series of unique daily interactions. The game promises to immerse players in a spiraling sense of dread as they navigate the disturbing elements of the farm. The game faced its first ban from Steam two years ago when a prototype was submitted. While some feedback was offered, Santa Ragione claims that no detailed information was provided, nor was there an opportunity for appeal. The game was subsequently banned again in December due to its unsettling imagery. While both Steam and Epic have hosted violent and sexual content in the past, Santa Ragione criticized what it perceived as censorship, advocating for clearer guidelines, transparency, and accountability from dominant distribution platforms. This past weekend, Santa Ragione released a statement disputing comments made by Epic VP Steve Allison, who expressed admiration for the studio. The developer criticized Epic for allegedly failing to support its claims and for making inaccurate statements regarding the game's content. They stated, "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 argued that the game should not be categorized with an AO rating, pointing to readily available full walkthroughs on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, as well as its distribution through the Humble Store as evidence. In response, Epic Games has maintained that the game breaches the Content Guidelines of the Epic Games Store. Brian Sharon, senior communications manager at Epic, stated, "Our team played the game and found it violated the Epic Games Store’s Content Guidelines, specifically the 'Inappropriate Content' and 'Hateful or Abusive Content' policies." Sharon added that upon conducting a secondary assessment through the ratings questionnaire, the game was assigned an Adults Only (AO) rating, which the store does not permit. He clarified that since this was not an official submission, they were unable to provide a certificate. However, he noted that developers were given information regarding the policies they breached. After the developers appealed, their content was reassessed, and the decision to deny the game's distribution was deemed appropriate and confirmed. Despite these challenges, Horses has reportedly sold over 18,000 copies, generating approximately $65,000 in net revenue by mid-December. Although this amount does not suffice for funding a new project, it has enabled the studio to settle loans and pay royalties owed to creator Andrea Lucco Borlera. A review of the game awarded it a score of 7/10, describing it as "an affecting first-person horror game that, despite some repetitive tasks and signposting issues, delivers a harrowing story you won’t forget in a hurry."