Censorship
Ongoing coverage on Censorship.
Latest coverage
Never too late for censorship: Doki Doki Literature Club gets deplatformed by Google Play a decade after release
Doki Doki Literature Club has been removed from Google Play approximately a decade after its initial release due to its depiction of sensitive themes like suicide and self-harm. Creator Dan Salvato and publisher Serenity Forge are working to have the game reinstated, noting its availability on other platforms and its artistic merit in addressing dark subject matter.
Doki Doki Literature Club Removed From Google Play Store After Already Being There For Months
Doki Doki Literature Club has been removed from the Google Play Store, with developer Serenity Forge citing a violation of the storefront's terms of service regarding sensitive themes. The game remains available on other platforms like iOS and Nintendo Switch, and Serenity Forge is exploring alternative Android distribution methods. This removal is discussed in the context of broader industry trends concerning content moderation and censorship of mature themes.
Russia closes loophole to fully block payments for Apple services
Russia has closed a loophole that previously allowed citizens to pay for Apple digital services, including the App Store. Starting April 1, 2026, these payments will be fully blocked, a move reportedly aimed at preventing users from purchasing VPN applications. This action is part of a broader government effort to increase online censorship and control information access.
Adult games may be an unintended beneficiary as FTC pressure payment providers like Visa and Mastercard not to debank Trump supporters, but I doubt it
The US Federal Trade Commission has sent letters to major payment providers like Visa and Mastercard, urging them not to deny services based on political or religious views. This action, intended to prevent discrimination against Trump supporters, could inadvertently benefit the adult games industry by discouraging payment processors from bowing to pressure that previously led to content delistings on platforms like Itch.io and Valve.
Dispatch Coming to Xbox Play Anywhere: Find Out More About This Unique, Beloved Adventure
Developer AdHoc released a censored version of the adventure game Dispatch for PlayStation 5 in Japan due to CERO rating guidelines, while an uncensored version was available globally. For the Nintendo Switch versions, only the censored Japanese version was released. This decision has led to backlash, with AdHoc now stating they are working with Nintendo to address the issue, potentially leading to an uncensored version for international markets.
Don't worry, Dispatch isn't going to be censored on Xbox
AdHoc has confirmed that its game Dispatch will not be censored on Xbox Series X/S, PC, or Xbox Cloud, unlike its Nintendo Switch version. The Xbox version will be identical to the original PC and PlayStation releases. The studio is also considering a second season for the successful title.
Final Fantasy XIV Developers Refuse to Censor Popular Photo Mode, Triggering Rating Change in Japan
The Japanese rating for Final Fantasy XIV is changing from CERO C to CERO D due to developers refusing to censor the game's popular photo mode. This change reflects a shift in content standards for the title.
Final Fantasy XIV Developers Refuse to Censor Popular Photo Mode, Triggering Rating Change in Japan
Square Enix developers for Final Fantasy XIV have decided against censoring the game's popular photo mode, which has led to a rating change in Japan. The decision comes as the English voice actor for the character G'raha Tia, Jonathan Bailey, was named sexiest man alive.
GTA Wiki editors cite "a reportedly pro-AI CEO," "terrible" ads, and restrictive censorship as they…
The GTA Wiki has migrated away from Fandom hosting due to editor protests against aggressive advertising, restrictive censorship, and the company's reportedly pro-AI CEO. This move follows a trend of other video game community wikis leaving Fandom over similar policy concerns.
This new adult content ban is boosting VPN popularity
Australia has implemented a ban on online adult content, requiring users to upload identification to access it. This new policy has led to a significant increase in the popularity and usage of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as users seek to bypass these restrictions.
Snowbreak Goes Dark: China Post Collab Sparks Censorship Fears
Snowbreak: Containment Zone has entered indefinite maintenance following controversy over its collaboration with China Post, a state-owned entity. Critics deemed the partnership inappropriate due to the game's sexualized content, sparking fears of censorship and government intervention. The sudden maintenance with no clear explanation has left players concerned about the game's future and highlights the challenges mobile games face in regulated markets.
Corpses in the censored Japanese version of Resident Evil Requiem are full of terrible darkness
The Japanese version of Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem features censorship, replacing gore with "anomalous pools of shadow" to comply with regulators. This practice of altering content for the Japanese market is not new for Capcom, with previous Resident Evil titles also undergoing censorship, sometimes through less subtle methods like replacing heads with photos. The article notes that while this censorship is present, the overseas version remains uncensored.
Resident Evil Requiem Japanese players fight "immersion-breaking" censorship
Japanese players of Resident Evil Village are expressing frustration over what they describe as immersion-breaking censorship in the game's gore. Black boxes obscure violent scenes, a practice that differs from some international releases and even the PC version in Japan, despite director Koshi Nakanishi's prior statements about comparability.
Resident Evil Requiem Criticized for 'Immersion-Breaking' Gore Censorship in Japan - IGN
Players of the Japanese version of Resident Evil Requiem are criticizing Capcom's censorship of gore, finding it immersion-breaking and less creative than in previous titles. The game's director, Koshi Nakanishi, had suggested the Japanese version would be comparable to the global release, but players report noticeable blacked-out areas that detract from the experience. This censorship is due to Japan's CERO game ratings board, which has strict guidelines on depictions of violence.
Microsoft banned the word 'Microslop' in its Copilot Discord server, then began restricting access after users started posting 'Microsl0p' and other funnies
Microsoft reportedly banned the term 'Microslop' on its official Copilot Discord server, only for users to circumvent the ban with variations like 'Microsl0p' and 'Sloppysoft'. The company appears to have since lifted the ban, with users continuing to use the derogatory term.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Remakes Add a Swear Filter, Limiting Your Ability to Name Your Rival Something Rude - IGN
Nintendo has implemented a swear filter in the re-releases of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen for the Nintendo Switch, preventing players from naming their rivals or themselves with profanity. While some common swear words are blocked, players are already finding ways to bypass the filter with alternative spellings. These ports are otherwise faithful emulations of the original Game Boy Advance titles.
Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen censor naughty names inputted by player
Pokemon FireRed and Pokemon LeafGreen now feature a name censor that prevents players from inputting inappropriate names for characters. Attempts to bypass this filter were largely unsuccessful, indicating a stricter approach to player-generated content in these titles.
