Funko Reacts as Itch.io Bounces Back 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. Here's what Funko had to say!

Funko Clarified That They Did Not Request Full Takedown

Now In Private Talks With Itch.io

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

They admitted that their brand protection partner, BrandShield, mistakenly identified an Itch.io page as an imitation of the Funko Fusion development website, leading to a takedown request for that specific page. Importantly, Funko clarified that they did not request a takedown of the entire Itch.io platform and were relieved to see the site restored by the morning.

Funko has since initiated contact with Itch.io to address the issue directly and expressed gratitude for the gaming community's understanding while the situation is being resolved.

However, according to Itch.io’s owner, Leaf, who shared details on Hacker News, the incident was more severe than a simple "takedown request." It was categorized as a "fraud and phishing report" sent to both the site’s host and registrar. The registrar's automated system responded by taking down the entire domain, despite Leaf's immediate action to remove the problematic content. Additionally, Funko’s representatives reportedly reached out to Leaf’s mother about the incident, a detail not mentioned in Funko's public statement.

For a deeper dive into this incident, check out Game8’s earlier coverage of Itch.io’s shutdown.