Funko, Itch.io Back Online After AI Brandshield Outage

Funko Responds to Itch.io Shutdown Caused by BrandShield

Collectibles giant Funko has addressed the temporary shutdown of the indie game marketplace Itch.io, an incident allegedly triggered by their brand protection software, BrandShield. Funko's official X (formerly Twitter) statement emphasizes their respect for the indie gaming community, stating, "We’re fans of fans, and we love the creativity and passion that define the indie gaming community."

Funko acknowledges that BrandShield flagged an Itch.io page mimicking the Funko Fusion development website, resulting in a takedown request. However, they explicitly deny requesting a full platform takedown and expressed relief at Itch.io's swift restoration. They've initiated private discussions with Itch.io to resolve the issue and appreciate the community's understanding.

Itch.io owner Leaf's Hacker News post provides further context, 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 responded by taking down the entire domain, despite Leaf's immediate action to remove the offending page. Leaf also notes, though unmentioned in Funko's statement, that Funko's team contacted his mother regarding the incident.

For a more detailed account of the Itch.io shutdown, please refer to Game8's previous article.