XSEED Games has delayed the launch of Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal in North America and Europe from its previously planned fall release window in order to remove the “Intimacy Mode” from the PlayStation 4 version at the request of Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company said in a statement. While the mode will remain in the PC version, both versions are being delayed.
“The release of Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal will be slightly delayed as we remaster to remove the interactive ‘Intimacy Mode’ from the PlayStation 4 version,” XSEED Games said in a tweet. “The Steam version will release with that mode intact and will launch simulaneously with PlayStation 4. We are looking forward to sharing the release date shortly and appreciate your patience.”
In a followup tweet, the company stated, “We respect the wishes of the platform holder.” The platform holder in this case is Sony Interactive Entertainment.
XSEED Games localization producer Tom Lipshultz said in a tweet that while previous entries in the series allowed this mode for the western release, the removal for this game is due to “a brand new policy” from Sony. Lipshultz added that he believes “it’s the interactivity in general that’s the issue.”
Unrelated, but also of note, the official Twitter account for ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove! responded to XSEED Games’ tweet, saying “same thing happened to us,” but did not elaborate.
This is not the first time Sony Interactive Entertainment has affected the release of a game on its platform in the west. The western release of Omega Labyrinth Z, a game with several erotic elements involving young girls, was cancelled by publisher PQube to “comply with the wishes of the platform holder.”