Oh, how the tides have shifted. Nintendo’s strict puritanical guidelines, enforced by its American and European branches, have once again disrupted Japanese developers, claiming another Neptunia victim in just two weeks.
Following Idea Factory’s announcement to cancel Western releases of Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth Trilogy and Death end re;Quest: Code Z due to these restrictive policies, it’s now confirmed that the motorcycle combat spin-off Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos will see notable differences between console versions in the West.
Sony inadvertently set Nintendo up for success when the PlayStation 4 era marked SIE’s relocation to California, where they began pressuring Japanese developers to censor content featuring sensual themes, fanservice, and attractive anime characters.
In contrast, Nintendo’s Switch became a beacon of anti-censorship, earning favor among consumers and small developers alike by offering relaxed content policies. However, with Nintendo now enforcing stricter guidelines that disrupt the release of many titles, it’s evident that mainstream platforms no longer provide a safe haven for Japanese developers producing content featuring heteronormative elements and fanservice.
Despite this, Idea Factory International confirmed that Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos will release globally on January 28, 2025, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and the embattled Nintendo Switch. While the Japanese version debuted on June 27, 2024, pre-orders for the global release are set to open on January 2, 2025.
This announcement follows Nintendo’s new guidelines that recently led to the cancellation of two other Idea Factory titles in the West.
The Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos Special Edition includes a physical game, a 64-page Nepbike Magazine Art Book, a set of five fold-out posters, a 28-piece Nepbike Sticker Set, a 10-track official soundtrack, and a reversible cover sleeve. It also features a download code for exclusive costumes: the Swimsuit Costume (PS4/PS5 only), Apocalyptic Costume, and Race Queen Costume. Additionally, the bundle includes an exclusive trading card for collectors.
In addition, Idea Factory provided updates on the game’s Costume Set DLC and its platform availability. They confirmed that the “Swimsuit Costume Set” will not be released for the Switch version, likely due to non-compliancy with Nintendo’s content guidelines.
The Swimsuit Costume Set, originally intended for release across all platforms, has been barred from the Nintendo Switch due to non-compliance with Nintendo’s increasingly restrictive content guidelines. In response, the Magazine and Deluxe Editions for the Switch have been reduced by $3 / £2.7 / €3 a mere token gesture for fans who still miss out on the removed content.
Meanwhile, the Swimsuit Costume Set remains fully available for PlayStation 4 and 5 players, both as part of the Magazine and Deluxe Editions and as standalone DLC. This stark disparity highlights the ongoing content regulation tug-of-war between Nintendo and Sony over the last decade.
Ironically, Nintendo, once celebrated for offering Japanese developers greater creative freedom now appears to be enacting policies that sporadically target even relatively tame elements like swimsuits, traditionally a staple of fanservice.
For the Neptunia franchise, this situation is particularly glaring. Known for its lighthearted parody of the gaming industry, Neptunia has always leaned heavily on fanservice as part of its appeal. Its cast of anthropomorphized console goddesses and CPU candidates are designed to be both charming and visually appealing, often dressed in costumes showcasing skin or incorporating bold, suggestive themes.
This fanservice is not just a superficial feature it’s woven into the identity of the franchise, attracting a dedicated audience that appreciates its playful and self-aware approach to gaming tropes. Titles in the series have consistently celebrated vibrant character designs and cheeky, over-the-top humor, making the censorship of something as harmless as swimsuits all the more baffling.
The hypocrisy in Nintendo’s enforcement is impossible to ignore. The Nintendo eShop hosts numerous titles far more explicit in nature, including adult-themed visual novels and dating simulators featuring highly suggestive content, particularly in Western markets like America and Europe.
For example, games such as Love Furry Boys/Girls: Zodiac Dating App complete with AI-generated anthropomorphic animals with robust and revealing designs was given an unrestricted release on December 19 while titles like Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos suffers from DLC prohibitions due to relatively tame depictions of swimsuits and attractive anime characters.
This troubling double standard appears to disproportionately target Japanese developers producing traditional anime-style games that appeal to fans of heterosexual fanservice.
Nintendo’s recent shift away from its once-lauded openness towards such content signals a disturbing trend, leaving Japanese developers with fewer mainstream platforms willing to support their creative visions. While Sony’s PlayStation has often been criticized for similar censorship practices in the past, it now finds itself in the unusual position of offering more freedom, or rather less censorship to developers like Idea Factory a situation that underscores just how much the landscape of content regulation has changed for the worst.
Nintendo seems to be reverting to its old habit of heavy-handed censorship with global releases. As the most popular console manufacturer over the past two generations, their influence is undeniable, especially as they aim to strengthen third-party relationships with the upcoming Switch successor.
However, their hypocritical and draconian guidelines appear designed to pressure Japanese developers into creating sanitized, homogenized games devoid of suggestive themes appealing to male audiences if they wish to access the most profitable and widely used platform on a global scale.
