Important Update: What Comes Next?

Hey everyone,

Unfortunately, I have some bad news today. As some of you may have already heard, Mastercard and Visa have started pressuring distributors to restrict certain types of content, specifically NSFW material.

This has directly impacted platforms like Itch.io, and sadly, that includes my game as well.

Itch.io is where I’ve been distributing my game and where most new players discover it. Patreon is where people can support my work and keep the game alive, but most patrons only find my Patreon after discovering the game on Itch.io. In short, without visibility on Itch.io, it becomes incredibly difficult for new supporters to find their way to Patreon.

Right now, my NSFW game is still technically online on Itch.io, but it has been shadowbanned. That means it no longer shows up in search or on my creator page. You can only access it via a direct link. And that puts the future of the project at serious risk.

According to a survey I ran a while back, about 80% of my current patrons found the game through Itch.io. I've spoken with other adult game developers, and they’ve seen the same pattern. Games that do well on Itch.io tend to also do well on Patreon. And unfortunately, since the shadowban, I’ve already noticed a decline in Patreon support, which was honestly expected, since most people discover the game through Itch.io.

So, what can I do?

Actually, I’ve been quietly preparing for this situation. Since releasing Chapter 11, I’ve been working during my off-time on a SFW version of Season 1 of Companion of Darkness. It was clear that the NSFW space was becoming increasingly targeted, so I wanted to be ready.

And when the shadowban hit, I took action. I’ve spent the last few days polishing and finalizing this new SFW version. I even called in sick for two days just to push it over the finish line, please don’t tell my boss 😅

Today, I’m officially releasing this version under the name "Companion of the Darkness". Yes, I know, very creative 😄

This is NOT a request for more support.
Please do not increase your pledge or join Patreon just because of this post.
It’s my job to make sure the game survives, not yours.

Why this SFW version matters

It allows me to reach new players who might not be interested in NSFW content at all.
It helps reestablish visibility on Itch.io. While the original game remains shadowbanned, my account (berkili4) now has a title that is fully visible again.
It serves as a kind of “free demo” or entry point for the full NSFW version. Only Season 1 is available in SFW format, to play Season 2, players will need to download the full version.

So, I need your help.

If you have a minute, please check out the SFW version on Itch.io:
https://berkili4.itch.io/companion-of-the-dark
Leave a nice comment or a good rating, it really helps signal to the algorithm that this project (and my work in general) is worth surfacing beyond just the NSFW niche.

And if you’re interested in staying up-to-date with Companion of Darkness, including the NSFW version, following me on Itch.io (as berkili4) is a great way to get updates. Of course, Patreon supporters will continue to get all news and updates as well, so no worries there.

Thank you for your time, and I’m sorry for the ping. I just wanted to be transparent about what’s going on.

Much love,
berkili4

P.S. For those of you on Patreon wondering,
"Hey, when is the playable teaser for Chapter 12 coming out?"
Very, very soon. This whole situation set me back a bit, but the teaser is now about 90% done, just one more animation left.

Fun fact, the teaser already includes more animations than Chapter 1 in total (and no, not NSFW ones, these are combat animations).
It picks up immediately after the end of Chapter 11 and includes one of the most intense battle sequences I’ve ever created. It also resolves part of the cliffhanger from Chapter 11.

Stay tuned ❤️