Funko has issued a statement regarding the temporary suspension of the Itch.io platform, allegedly triggered by their brand protection software. Let's examine Funko's response.
Funko in Private Discussions with Itch.io
Funko's official X (formerly Twitter) account addressed the situation, emphasizing their "deep respect and appreciation for indie games, indie gamers, and indie developers." They confirmed that their brand protection partner, BrandShield, flagged an Itch.io page mimicking the Funko Fusion development website, leading to a takedown request. Crucially, Funko stated they did not request a complete platform takedown and expressed relief at Itch.io's swift restoration.
Funko confirmed they are now in direct communication with Itch.io to resolve the matter and thanked the gaming community for their understanding.
However, Itch.io's owner, Leaf, provided a more nuanced account on Hacker News, revealing the incident involved a "fraud and phishing report," not just a simple takedown request. This report was sent to both Itch.io's host and registrar, resulting in the automated takedown of the entire domain, despite Leaf's immediate action to remove the offending page. Furthermore, Leaf's account also revealed contact from Funko's team to his mother—a detail omitted from Funko's official statement.
For further details on the Itch.io shutdown, refer to Game8's previous report.
