Indie Developer Calls Out itch.io Over “Uncontrollable” Wave of Pirated Games

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For many independent developers, platforms like itch.io represent creative freedom. The storefront has long positioned itself as an open alternative to larger marketplaces, offering flexible pricing models and minimal gatekeeping. But that openness is now under renewed scrutiny after a solo developer publicly accused the platform of failing to curb a growing piracy problem, one that directly impacts small creators who can least afford it.

ViJuDa, developer behind the Super Woden racing series, took to social media to call out itch.io over what he described as an uncontrollable wave of stolen indie games being reuploaded without meaningful safeguards or reporting tools. His frustration centered on his latest release, Super Woden Rally Edge, a retro-inspired arcade rally racer currently available on Steam.

According to ViJuDa, a brand-new itch.io account created just a week earlier had uploaded a pirated version of the game under a “name your own price” model. The account, named Francescara, reportedly listed multiple stolen titles, including The Slormancer and N++, suggesting a clear pattern of infringement rather than an isolated mistake. The fake listing allegedly copied the original description almost word for word, advertising features like car customization, local multiplayer, and online leaderboards.

ViJuDa publicly asserted his copyright ownership in the comment section and filed a formal DMCA takedown request. As of February 18, the page remains active. Other developers replied that they had experienced similar issues, describing delayed or nonexistent responses from itch.io support. Some argued that while piracy exists everywhere, the problem feels particularly visible on an open platform where new accounts can seemingly upload well-known commercial titles without automated checks.

This isn’t a new criticism. Developer forums and Reddit threads dating back years have documented cases of games being ripped from itch.io and resold elsewhere, or conversely, pirated Steam titles appearing on itch.io itself. Some creators have even reported players downloading broken pirated builds and then directing complaints at official channels, creating reputational damage on top of lost revenue.