Funko Responds to Itch.io Shutdown Caused by BrandShield
Collectibles giant Funko has addressed the temporary shutdown of the indie game marketplace Itch.io, allegedly triggered by its brand protection software, BrandShield. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Funko emphasized its strong support for the indie gaming community, stating, "We hold a deep respect and appreciation for indie games, indie gamers, and indie developers. We’re fans of fans, and we love the creativity and passion that define the indie gaming community."
Funko acknowledged that BrandShield flagged an Itch.io page mimicking the Funko Fusion development website, leading to a takedown request. However, they clarified that they did not request a complete shutdown of Itch.io and expressed relief at the platform's swift restoration. They are now in private discussions with Itch.io to resolve the issue and appreciate the community's understanding.
Itch.io owner Leaf offered a different perspective on Hacker News, revealing the takedown wasn't a simple request but a "fraud and phishing report" sent to both the hosting provider and registrar. The registrar's automated system reacted by taking down the entire domain, despite Leaf's immediate action to remove the offending page. Leaf also noted, though unmentioned in Funko's statement, that Funko's team contacted his mother regarding the incident.
For more detailed information on the Itch.io shutdown, please refer to Game8's previous article.
