Funko Reacts as Itch.io Recovers Post AI-Brandshield Shutdown

Funko has now responded to the temporary shutdown of the indie game marketplace, Itch.io, following an incident allegedly caused by its affiliated brand protection software. Read on to discover Funko's official statement!

Funko Clarified That They Did Not Request Full Takedown

Now In Private Talks With Itch.io

Collectibles company Funko has publicly addressed the Itch.io takedown via its official X (formerly Twitter) account. In their statement, Funko expressed a "deep respect and appreciation for indie games, indie gamers, and indie developers," emphasizing their admiration for the creativity and passion within the indie gaming community.

Funko acknowledged that their brand protection partner, BrandShield, 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 request a takedown of the entire platform and were pleased to see the site restored by the morning.

Funko also stated that they have reached out to Itch.io "to engage with them on this issue" and expressed gratitude for the understanding of the gaming community as they work through the details.

However, according to Itch.io’s owner, Leaf, on Hacker News, the situation was more complex than a simple "takedown request." It was classified as a "fraud and phishing report," which was sent to both the site’s host and registrar. The registrar's automated system then took down the entire domain, despite Leaf's immediate action to remove the offending content. Additionally, Funko’s team reportedly contacted Leaf’s mother regarding the incident, a detail not mentioned in Funko's public statement.

For more detailed information on this incident, you can refer to Game8’s earlier article on Itch.io’s shutdown.