Sony delays PS4 release of Senran Kagura game over sexually explicit content
Platform holder requests removal of Intimacy Mode which features sexual interactions with underage girls
Sony has temporarily halted the release of Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal on PlayStation 4, telling US publisher Xseed Games to remove Intimacy Mode from the game.
Rated PEGI 16 in Europe, Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal is an anime-style game about high school girl ninjas that features partial nudity, sexual themes, strong language, and violence.
In its current form, the game also includes an Intimacy Modes which allows players to spray down and grope the girls.
According to a statement from Xseed Games, Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal will be slightly delayed in order to remove Intimacy Mode from the PS4 version.
"We respect the wishes of the platform holder," added Xseed Games.
The Steam release, which will be launched alongside the PS4 version, will remain unaltered.
Intimacy Mode has appeared in previous games from Xseed without pushback from Sony. However, according to Xseed localisation producer Tom Lipschultz, this is "brand new policy" from the platform holder.
He added that while "the age of the characters doesn't help", he believes its the "interactivity in general that's the issue" and changing the girls' age wouldn't make a difference.
PQube, the game's UK distributor, ran into similar problems earlier this year when Omega Labyrinth Z became the first game to be banned in the country since Manhunt 2. Developed by Matrix Software, it too featured sexually explicit itneractions with udnerage girls.
This move represents a growing pattern from Sony, which also saw the it block the controversial pick-up artist game Super Seducer from release on PS4.