Sony's been on the receiving end of a backlash recently as it's seemingly decided to alter its stance on mature content and themes in PlayStation games. Japanese developers in particular are having their titles censored to varying degrees, and apparently, the process isn't especially pleasant.
The whole thing's been rumbling on for weeks now, and it's not showing any real signs of slowing. Proceedings have become particularly heated again thanks to a game called Nekopara Vol. 1, a typically risque visual novel-style title that sees the player interact with a couple of frisky catgirls.
Nekopara Vol. 1's readily available over on Steam, but it's the game's console launch that has people talking. It's out on both the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 4, but as you've probably guessed, the PS4 version has been altered to suit Sony's aforementioned stance.
The title features nudity along with some sexually-charged scenes and dialogue, as well as a 'breast jiggle' slider that lets you choose how bouncy you want your catgirls to be. Because of all this, the game's rated M, or Mature on Switch. However, on PS4, it's sat there with an E for Everyone. That's quite the change.
That's because on Sony's system, there's less nudity thanks various visual effects, and the breast jiggle slider has been removed entirely.
And so the censorship debate rages on. What do you make of this? Is Sony in the right to alter its platform's games, or is it making a mistake? Keep calm in the comments section below.
Comments 139
Never thought the day would come when Nintendo is more hardcore than their competition.
Let the weebs get their kicks, Sony.
This is so pathetic.
It's Sony's console, so, their rules.
As for why is this happening, I read a comment somewhere, that could be related to the underage aspect of the characters, so could be this.
This is a mistake, like, seriously, from M to E?? Just let developers make games, don't censor them. Besides, most of playstation users are adult.
I live in an alternative reality. Xenoblade chronicles x was praised for not changing lin's age. This is a giant step forward for Nintendo. I don't think it's that big of a deal if both Nintendo and steam offer the full version.
@HungryWolf I can't believe that people are defending this.
E for Everyone? That's the family party game sorted for Christmas Day. And gran thought Singstar was difficult to get her head around, wait until she sees this.
Well, Sony has pushed me right back into the arms of MS. When RE 2 and DMC V roll around I'll be sure to get them for the console that provides the full uncensored experience.
Well it was potentially offensive to cats.
I can imagine the proud heads at Sony: "Our game got an E, not Nintendo's, hehehe."
@shogunrok I think there a few things that need to be considered that aren't in the article. I highly doubt this will continue to be rated and I'll explain why. Titles like this as I understand use a questionnaire to get rated. Sometimes this results in inaccurate ratings. If you look at the screenshot there is still a light pantyshot in here, and I doubt this has had enough changes to be E with no descriptors from that (the pantyshot) alone.
A few examples of games that had their rating changed: Warframe - rated T for blood and violence, rating changed to M for Violence and blood and gore. It wasn't updates that made this need a rating change.
Mercenary Kings - Rated M then got rerated to a T
Don't Starve - went from E-10 to T
Naughty Bear Panic in Paradise - E-10 to T
Censorship should always be up to the individual. It's clearly not a problem of illegal or offensive content. The game got an M rating on Switch without issues. Catherine will show if Sony has some sense of rationality left.
As for my thoughts on it, right or wrong, I'm not personally bothered if the cute kissing and (I'm assuming) licking stuff is still in there. While cencorship may not be the best, I'll admit I'll enjoy it more with the decreased nudity and maybe some of the more lewd dialogue gone. Selfish? Yes.
And if it's because of the underage aspect I can understand. Changing the numbers would be a farce and so would everyone who would play it know that.
@KingdomHeartsFan Lol, just lol.
This is the new cross-play, isn’t?
@Gamer83 Who said anything about those games being censored?
@gamer83 I highly doubt that Resi 2 and DMC V will be censored.
@get2sammyb Who's to say they won't be?
@IBeAGamer Because all of the "censhorship" stories thus far (which can be counted on one hand, for the record) have pertained to weird ass anime games where you touch 10-year-olds while they sob about it.
Also, we have no idea what Microsoft's stance on all this is because these games don't come out on Xbox. Maybe they'd frown on it in the exact same way as Sony is.
It's funny how people aren't having a go at Nintendo for censoring Smash but when Sony does it, it's all like "I'm buying my games from Ninty and MS" it's the new crossplay cos there isn't anything else to moan about.
@get2sammyb Yet Nintendo is perfectly fine with them. Also that's strictly for these games now but who's to say that it won't end up affecting games such as Persona and Yakuza in the long run.
@AdamNovice @get2sammyb
You guys seen Trish's outfit, or should I say lack thereof? And Claire has her classic costume back, those shorts will no doubt raise some eyebrows at braindead Sony's offices in crazy California.
@KingdomHeartsFan Have fun with Sony entirely ruining a game for the sake of being family friendly.
So funny that when we spoke about this last week we thought it would only get worse, and now this story breaks. I cannot wait to see how this spreads to Triple A development. Remind me why we have the ESRB? Why we ask parents to monitor their children?
@AdamNovice
When Nintendo starts censoring third party games again they'll get raked over the coals too. In fact, they were getting some work from that recent decision, I read the comments on SourceGaming's Twitter feed.
@Gamer83 I don't recall the outfits in Soulcaliber or Dynasty Warriors raising any eyebrows in Sony. I see where you're coming from, but we've not a number of examples, and Nekopara fits the status quo, DMCV and Resi don't.
@gamer83 Except Trish is clearly depicted as an adult, whereas in these games there anything but.
@Gamer83 I very much doubt it. As of this minute, there's no precedent of that. Right now we only have evidence of changes being requested in these specific type of anime games with questionably aged characters.
Ivy in SoulCalibur 6 for example still has a ridiculous costume.
@Jaz007
The policy is retroactive, I expect SC VI to get patched to hell starting around the time season pass content hits.
@AdamNovice
Still suggestive (some might say worse) and you know there's somebody who will be highly offended and loud about it.
@KingdomHeartsFan I'm talking about in general actually, the fact they charge you the exact same price for games with more content is an absolute joke but it's cool when Sony does it I guess.
@gamer83 So now you just expect Sony to censor everything? Pull the other one, they have the right to decide what goes on their store, especially when it comes to games with incredibly questionable content.
And so it was decreed: Sony giveth to one hand, and taketh away from the other hand. But lo! Upon yonder horizon was sat a handheld by the name of 'Switch', and choice and good fortune smiled upon it.
@IBeAGamer So "boob jiggles" is extra content now? Lol
@Turismo4GT Not exactly worth the terrible online service, small storage and overpriced games though.
@AdamNovice Nice job ignoring the other games they've censored because last I checked, games like Senran Kagura have had modes removed due to this nonsense. So you know, extra content is being removed.
@AdamNovice
Point out where I said Sony isn't allowed to do what it wants... All I said is my money for third party games is going elsewhere now, I don't like where this is leading. You support censorship, that's great. I don't.
@Gamer83 Don't bother man.
@IBeAGamer
I know, certain people will never criticize or question Lord Sony.
It is a lose lose. Don't censor these, someone shouts think of the children. Do censor and someone demands that they are treading on their freedom. This is more likely than not a purely precautionary step as with all these because they feel that this will give Sony a bad rap. Is it right? Debatable. But it is their image and they can do as they please.
Ahh, the irony. Incorrectly perceived "wittle kiddy Nintendo" is suddenly the more relaxed publisher. The creators of Super Seducer should try launching on Switch, since Sony got blue balls and backed out the day of Launch. I was all set to check it out on PS4, too.
@IBeAGamer Yeah Senran Kagura isn't exactly the best game to support your argument considering how that series depicts young girls as sex objects, it's a wonder it gets released at all.
@gamer83 "you support censorship" pretty sure I've never said that once. I'm merely pointing out that a couple on here are blowing a casket over this when Sony haven't exactly been censoring every adult title out there.
@kixem I don't know where you heard that from, but the switch version of Wolfy 2 has the same content as the others.
All German versions are censored, obviously.
@Gamer83 The thing is you're making assumptions. If SoulCalibur 6 is patched or if Devil May Cry 5 is changed, then you'll read all about it on here.
But I'm not going to get annoyed about something that isn't yet happening. The pattern right now exclusively pertains to games where you're touching up children. That's all we have to go on right at this moment.
I've gone on record as saying I don't agree with it personally, but I'm also not that fussed because I don't want to play these games.
@AdamNovice The franchise literally had modes like that since the beginning and only now are Sony becoming absolute morons about it but why am I even arguing with you? Fanboys will be fanboys.
@get2sammyb "I don't want to play them so it's a non-issue and people shouldn't be angry".
@IBeAGamer Ahh the old "fanboys" line just cos I don't agree with you.
@IBeAGamer That's not what I said in the slightest. You can't expect everyone to be as irritated about this "issue" as you are. If you want to play these games then that's your prerogative and you have a right to voice your opinion. I don't believe anyone has stopped you.
@get2sammyb Putting words into people's mouths seems to be the order of the day sadly.
@AdamNovice Nope the fanboy line because you're trying to pretend that Sony aren't being idiots.
@get2sammyb
I don't play these games either but it is cause for concern. You start with the niche games then go big and once it effects a game I like then it's too late to say anything.
@get2sammyb The fact that people are defending this is why I'm irked. Even if it doesn't affect you, don't act like it isn't stupid or that others have a right to be mad. I didn't care at all for the cross play debate but still empathised with the poor sods affected.
That's... pretty drastic, isn't it?
Nintendo and Valve decided to opt for less censorship at just the right time, apparently.
@IBeAGamer So basically I'm a "fanboy" cos I don't have share the opinion that you have that Sony are "idiots".
@gamer83 They won't go after the big publishers's games cos they need their custom which shift consoles. These games don't, and with good reason it would seem.
Guys just play the games you wanna play on the platform that you wanna play on. If you don’t like a practice don’t buy into the product simple as that
@Gamer83 I hear you, but I think we still need to wait for a lot more definitive evidence before we can draw any conclusions about what this will and won't affect.
@IBeAGamer Maybe some people think Sony's in the right here. Again, I personally don't agree with any form of censorship, I think people should make up their own minds. But there's no doubt that some of these games are right on the line of what is acceptable. But you could say that about a lot of violent games, too.
I'm not entirely sure where the line should be drawn, and I'm personally glad I don't have to make that difficult decision.
@AdamNovice There's plenty of complaints about removing Mr. Game-and-Watch's feather on NintendoLife, on a 200+ comment article. Nintendo still have their reputation for censorship, and that probably won't change considering how infamous they've been about it. People probably expect it from them, now.
So weird for Sony to be doing the heavy handed censoring instead of Nintendo. As long as games have the appropriate age ratings, then I don't think Sony should be telling developers what they can and can't do.
All this recent action from Sony is very off-putting.
@crimsontadpoles they are the market leader and it is thier platform they can do whatever they goshdang please
@NintendoFan4Lyf I think a lot of this comes from Sony trying to portray themselves as progressive, particularly in America. We've seen them sponsor a lot of events lately encouraging more girls to get into the industry, and I guess they don't want to be seen as talking out of both sides of their mouth by letting this kind of content slide.
I tend to agree that the ratings boards are here to determine what is and isn't acceptable, and we don't really need a "third wheel" getting involved.
Anyway I've basically moved to Xbox and Switch only at this point so Sony can keep ruining their games all they want at this point.
@IBeAGamer Dude then go shoo shoo
https://tenor.com/view/chris-tucker-smokey-get-out-go-away-shoo-gif-4580774
C'mon Sony, give us them animé tattas.
I love PlayStation but Sony be on some dumb 💩
They don't allow mods on Ps4, they were being backwards with backwards compatibility and now this...
@Shepherd_Tallon I happily sign what you wrote. If Sony actually censors sexualized depictions of minors, I think it's more than okay. The main thing is, for me personally, that we can keep our sexy 'adult' girls like Ivy, Taki and friends.
@Hapuc Seeing as I still own a PS4, I can stay here if I'd like.
@Derpie1 Sony can do what they want with their platform, but I'm not going to agree with every decision they make.
@IBeAGamer "I've basically moved to Xbox and Switch only at this point"
Again shoo shoo.
@get2sammyb People in China and Russia thought the same thing once upon a time and look at them now...nothing gets released without government approval. Look at history of communist nations, at first it was just "self imposed censorship" or companies forcing their ideals down their partners throats, and eventually governments started to get in on the action...
@Hapuc "Seeing as I still own a PS4, I can stay here if I'd like. "
Again, I'll stay here thanks
@IBeAGamer Then don't moan here about not being able to grope children.
Go to 4chan for that.
I knew this was gonna be the new cross play thing but unlike that which really didn't affect me and others this really affect the game so in the long run this could affect my games, so hopefully they get a lot of backlash so they can come to there senses, I still can't believe this is even an article in a PlayStation site I never thought I would see the day of Sony switching places with Nintendo in regards of censorship
@Hapuc You fanboys are actually more pathetic than the people you're trying to act bigger than you know that right?
The fact that Nintendo is more ballsy that Sony is a worrying thing but nah, you keep defending Sony even though it'll probably end up affecting other games as well.
@get2sammyb and Catherine has just got glasses to see through clothes 😯
Also I'll bet any amount of money this never happens to game expecting to sell huge numbers
@IBeAGamer
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2018/11/catherine_full_bodys_in-game_nero_glasses_let_you_see_through_characters_clothes
doesn't look like censored to me.
https://personacentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Catherine-FB-Screenshots-12.jpg
https://personacentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Catherine-FB-Screenshots-14.jpg
Let's hope, the characters in Catherine look mature enough for Sony then. :/
@Hapuc That's a lovely Japanese version right there, care to show the proof that our version will be the same?
@IBeAGamer 99% it will be the same since almost all Sony HQ is based in California and it will be like that.
And if you care about nudity that much import the Japanese version.
@Hapuc Lol this is the saddest defence yet.
"If you want to have the proper version, just import it".
Entirely missing the point as usual.
@IBeAGamer Try Again!
I Expected a good comeback but you know as expected...nothing.
@Hapuc Try again even though you basically just gave up defending?
These fanboys I swear.
@Grim-Tuesday Why would you care what age a girl is?
@IBeAGamer Try again your points are weak you are against censorship but give me a good reason why should anyone allow people to indulge their sexual desires to fondle little children's breasts.
There is a difference between Censorship and not wanting Cr*/ on your store like this.
@IBeAGamer Xenogears was a different story wasn't it. The small titles ok big titles. 😁
@Hapuc No idea why you are still on the site though?
@Hapuc Yet Nintendo are allowing it my friend, that is just sad that Nintendo are more progressive right now that Sony are. Censorship shouldn't exist in any form and censoring a game this much is pathetic.
@Flaming_Kaiser What's Xenogears?
@IBeAGamer even tho thier stance on Online is still Backwards...
@IBeAGamer Do you get paid for every time you say fanboy? Cos it seems to be your default reply.
@IBeAGamer Xenoblade😜 and a great game.
@Derpie1 Yep and they get ridiculed for it.
@AdamNovice If only I did, then I'd be hoping for more defence of Sony being backwards idiots.
I don’t care about these types of games, except for Senran Kagura. Honestly, I just find them to be silly games that aren’t to be taken serious and those who enjoy them, have at it. These niche games seem to be the big talk as of late with Sony’s new policy and I wouldn’t even pay much attention to this game haven’t been for this article. I’m a guy who reads a lot of manga and when the artwork(removing blood or covering up someone) or even curse words gets removed from its original form it bothers me. So in a way, I get why people are upset about it. I am a little worried that this could affect a Persona, Yakuza, or something else that I like in the near future or so. Nothing has happened yet so we wait and see.
@shonenjump86 So glad that someone here gets it.
@IBeAGamer So different company we are not talking about Nintendo we are talking about Sony.
@TowaHerschel7 Can we please not compare the plight of entire nations under fascist dictatorships to the removal of sexual content in extremely niche Japanese games?
I get where you're coming from but that's one hell of a leap in logic.
As with all articles on this topic i am no longer going to enter into arguments.
What i will say however is that Sony should probably release a statement to explain their updated policy for a game to be licensed for release in the west.
People are making a lot of assumptions about the impact on other titles - things that are very unlikely to happen, so Sony should nip this in the bud now
@AdamNovice No I'm calling Sony that.
@Hapuc Yet this article is about a game being a E rated game compared to the Nintendo version which is M rated. Nintendo has always been part of this discussion. :/
@IBeAGamer Yes I jumped in too early so apologies for that.
Look I get why it's a huge concern I do but right now I don't think it's that big of an issue yet. I personally don't think games that depict young girls in a sexualized manner is right. If like some have predicted that games like Catherine, DMCV get censored then I'd be just as critical of Sony as you. I just honestly think right now the type of games their targeting is justified.
@AdamNovice I'm getting heated because I fear that this will lead to worse things for Japanese games in general and I kind of hope gamers take a stand before it becomes that. If it turns out that Catherine and other good Japanese games are safe then I'll take back everything I've said but being scared that games you really can't wait to play could turn out to be censored to this degree is not exactly fun man.
@IBeAGamer BUt they are not anymore because no one cares and to top it all off rarely anyone cares the only outrage i'm seeing is from you and other guy no where else.
I’d appreciate a jiggly bits slider IRL
@Hapuc No one cares yet there's a lot of controversy all over the internet regarding this. Keep trying and failing.
@IBeAGamer I hear you mate and I hope I didn't upset you earlier. Time will certainly tell, I honestly believe it won't get that bad but if it does then it's going to be a bitterly disappointing time.
I find it funnier that they take great steps to censor these games but don't bother to properly curate the PSN Store and happily put up for sale titles like life of black tiger.
@Gamer83 Or they will criticize Sony more heavily the split second they "mess up" ignoring everything else they do great and everything else the competition doesn't do well.
But it's fine. It's their right anyway.
Censorship: Sony does what Nintendon't. I must to the Switch eshop for... research purposes.
@IBeAGamer Literally there is no controversy from anyone no one is reporting on this barely few channels do it and those are Japanese games centric channels.
The sort of thing I'd expect from Nintendo, except Nintendo left it uncensored? lol
I can imagine this impacting their sales greatly. Though probably anyone that cares got it on Steam for significantly less ages ago anyway.
Guess that's the first game I won't be getting the Sony version of since, I won't support that kinda censor
First World Pervs Problem.
Censorship is a serious thing, this is just Sony saying "violent games are ok if played by adults, games about groping little girls are not."
Nintoddlers evolve to Ninadults. And Sonyponies become... Sonykittens? Meow.
This comment section is disappointing.
Just a tip for everyone, as soon as you're calling other people "fanboy" you've already lost any discussion you're participating in.
@Gamer83 you do know that those games aren't getting censored right they seem to be going after the pervy games that have under aged characters
@get2sammyb "weird ass anime games where you touch 10-year-olds while they sob about it"
That's a pretty spot on description.
@Gamer83 or certain people just don't want to promote kiddy fiddling.
I know some people get their kicks from it but as a father of 2 girls, I'm more than fine that this type of content is removed.
@IBeAGamer You moved to another consoles, but you are still here acting like a concerned troll.
So keep with your favorite consoles then.
@hi_drnick are games with killing in them promoting murder?
@Flaming_Kaiser You could dress your characters in swimsuits including Lin.
@andreoni79 The usual western bias... Violence is glorified but a little bit of pervy guilty pleasure is the world biggest abomination..
Really disappointing on Sony's move. Fixing a problem nobody was complaining about.. With nowadays Steam allowing M-rated games & even Nintendo loosen up censorship, but Sony chose to going backward.
I applaud Sony once again for taking a stand — the right stand. And Nintendo drops the ball again.
@IBeAGamer It's not pathetic — it's right. Seriously, dude, you have issues if you don't see that.
@hi_drnick Father of three girls here; good to have an ally on this issue.
@get2sammyb
I guess what Sony doesn't realize then is there are female gamers who like niche stuff. Ranging from stuff like this to the less weird stuff like Yakuza. I know this because I talk to them. Again, Sony can act how it wants but there is nothing progressive about the current actions.
@Areus
Not getting censored yet but it's like quitting smoking don't just go cold turkey. Censoring starts with smaller niche games and then it branches out. Muddying the waters is that PlayStation's new headquarters is in the biggest echo chamber in the U.S. and there's a large segment of people in that echo chamber who hate sexual content of any kind. They know Sony is on their side and will capitulate to whatever they want. And Sony can get away with this because games like DMC, Resident Evil, Yakuza, Tekken pretty much any Japanese games these days, aren't going to move hardware.
The only company at this point that will be allowed to do whatever the hell it wants is Rockstar. Not even Sony is going to be dumb enough to listen to the no fun police on twitter who will tell them to censor Rockstar because GTA, and Red Dead Redemption are the rare third party games that can move hardware on their own, especially for the console maker with the marketing deal.
@doctommaso nope.
@Enigk y'know that's a really good question and one that could potentially go in a lot of different directions.
I think you could certainly argue that games glorify violence similar to movies and there are very few instances of games that present a sobering view of it (i can really only think of Spec Ops: The Line off the top of my head).
But whilst games might glorify violence I don't think that they normalise it and put anyone in the frame of mind that it's acceptable.
I think sexual content, especially that of a questionable nature, can normalise deviant behaviour. There's quite a lot of literature that illustrates the uptick in porn consumption with the normalisation of rape (and naturally, other articles that provide a different viewpoint).
And whilst this is simply an opinion, I think it's a much shorter psychological distance to travel from virtual molestation to actual molestation than it would be from killing a digital character to murdering a real human, statistically you're much more likely to get raped than murdered (the US had a murder rate of 5 and a rape rate of 30 (per 100,000 people) in 2017 and 2/3s of rapes go unreported).
If your belief is that any form of censorship is wrong then I don't think my opinion will be of much value to you, but I'm in Sony's camp unless they go all 1984 on games.
@Rob_230
No business in its right mind releases something about company policy to the public unless its absolutely necessary. A few people here and there purchasing certain M rated games on PC or Xbox One over PS4 this late in the generation hardly hurts Sony's bottomline. Discussing behind the scene stuff publicly? That can lead to problems with the biggest one being potential trust issues between Sony and its publishing and developing partners.
Man, some people really wanna fiddle anime kids don't they?
@hi_drnick I agree with censorship. In this case it had already been censored once. If Sony didn’t agree with the censor then they should just not have released the game at all. I personally think there is a lot to be said for self censorship. If you don’t want to play, watch or listen to something then don’t.
I don’t think that playing games will lead to people to carry out the same activities in real life unless the person was inclined to do it anyway and surely we shouldn’t censor everyone else due to a select few. Games that look like a cartoon would lead to less imitation, I would assume, due to being further removed from real life.
I wonder whats up with the sudden interest in censorship? Sony is doing great this generation but the train has to stop some time so its time I guess.
Don't crap your pants. Our youth is a lost, sexualized cause anyways. When people trade sexual acts like handshakes already before the age of 16 what harm can a few cartoon boobs do?
@HungryWolf Underaged girls don't sport a breast-jiggler-slider All the rest is just fantasy and the censor's minds are often dirtier than those of your common otakus.
Anyone who can try and defend Sony on this kind of thing is delusional.
@IBeAGamer So rape, Child sexual abuse, schoolshootings, racist games should be allowed on a console? Yeah no. 🤨
Oh and i dont have to be a fanboy if i dont agree with you. If i dont agree i will be annoyed.
This is fake. It's rated M on PSN.
Guys seriously the article is fake. Go look for yourselves!
@HungryWolf Actually in Australia that would be an unlawful restriction. No corporate entity may restrict the rights and freedoms of any person under the law. It may be their system but it is my physical property and they violate my rights by restricting what I can do with it.
@Flaming_Kaiser Those things would be unlawful under Australian law and therefore unlawful for the developer to sell here. However there are a great many games and VR experiences that are in no way unlawful that Sony is restricting access to. That is also a violation of peoples rights under the law.
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