Funko Responds as Itch.io Recovers from Shut Down by AI-Powered Brandshield

Discover Funko's response to the temporary shutdown of indie game marketplace Itch.io, allegedly triggered by its brand protection software. Dive into the details below!

Funko Clarified That They Did Not Request Full Takedown

Now In Private Talks With Itch.io

Collectibles giant Funko has issued a public statement via their official X (formerly Twitter) account, addressing the recent Itch.io shutdown. Funko expressed their admiration and 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."

They acknowledged that their brand protection partner, BrandShield, had identified an Itch.io page that was "imitating the Funko Fusion development website," leading to a takedown request for that specific page. However, Funko clarified that they did not intend for the entire Itch.io platform to be taken down and expressed relief that the site was restored by morning.

Funko has since reached out to Itch.io to discuss the issue further, emphasizing their gratitude for the understanding and patience of the gaming community during this resolution process.

Itch.io's owner, Leaf, provided additional context on Hacker News, revealing that the incident was escalated from a mere "takedown request" to a "fraud and phishing report." This report was sent to both the site’s host and registrar, prompting an automated system to take down the entire domain. Despite Leaf's swift action to remove the problematic page, the automatic response from the registrar caused the broader shutdown. Interestingly, Funko's team reportedly reached out to Leaf's mother regarding the incident, a detail not covered in Funko's statement.

For a comprehensive overview of the Itch.io shutdown, be sure to visit Game8’s earlier coverage on the topic.