Steam Rejects Visual Novel With 24,000 Wishlists Over Content

A Japanese horror visual novel developed by indie team Viv was scheduled for release on Steam after accumulating 24,000 wishlists since an August 2025 store page. On May 13, developer Bibu announced a release platform change because the game did not meet Steam distribution criteria. The game will instead be released on DLsite and BOOTH, with the release date to be announced later. Bibu did not specify the exact reason for Steam’s denial, but later comments joked about artwork being “too cute” for Steam. The official site includes a “radical expression” disclaimer listing serious themes such as drug use, trypophobia, self-harm, murder, suicidal expression, and sexual metaphors without agreement.

"We had planned to release on Steam, but since it does not meet the distribution criteria, we will change the platform and release on DLsite／BOOTH. 発売日等については、あらためてお知らせいたしますので今しばらくお待ちください！"

"If my artwork is 'too cute' for Steam, then maybe Steam and I just weren't meant to be. I use psycho-horror to express hatred, jealousy, love, dependency, and sexual desire. I'm not trying to make a mass-market adult game; I want to make something with literary and emotional value."

"リリースプラットフォーム変更#ThisGameIsNotReal につきまして、Steamでの配信を予定していましたが、配信基準を満たさないため、プラットフォームを変更してDLsite／BOOTHにて配信します。"

"The new store page for the game on has a “radical expression” disclaimer section that some lists of the game's “serious themes,” including drug use, trypophobia, self-harm, murder, suicidal expression, and “sexual metaphors without agreement.”"

Read at Kotaku