Funko’s surprise takeover of Itch.io, the beloved online platform and haven for independent game developers, has left many wondering what this means for the future of the gaming community. In response to a formal announcement from Itch.io’s official Twitter account, Funko Pop’s parent company reported a suspected phishing incident to the platform’s registrar, ultimately leading to the outage of its entire website.
An incident occurred in the early hours of today’s dawn. Itchi.io’s social media statement reads: “I kid you not, Itchio has been taken down by Unique Funko due to their flawed ‘AI Powered’ Model Safety Software, Model Protect LTD, which incorrectly flagged us for phishing, prompting @iwantmyname to ignore our response and shut down the site.”
The assertion concludes by stating that, in the interest of transparency, we promptly removed the disputed webpage upon discovering the issue, as it was not worth compromising on matters like this. Despite this, our registrar’s automated system may have inadvertently disabled the area due to a lack of confirmation regarding its elimination? It was subsequently revealed that if the downtime surpasses eight hours, prioritizing the deployment of a new area would be feasible. As of this moment, it has been just under two hours.
It’s a grim situation unfolding, and we hope the itch.io team can swiftly address this issue in due course. On Itch.io, users can truly stumble upon fascinating and often subversive video games that deviate from mainstream norms. A dedicated platform where gamers can discover and enhance their recreational activities without being overwhelmed by the vast offerings of the Steam marketplace.
Why not take a moment to revisit Itch.io when it’s available again? You might stumble upon something genuinely fascinating instead. What a unique platform that empowers individuals to connect and share their thoughts! As we’ve seen happen to popular platforms like Itch.io, cool online destinations can suddenly disappear overnight, leaving users with little notice or recourse.
