Microsoft Requests Censorship of Two Games; Publisher Chooses Not to Release Them on Xbox

Publisher City Connection has announced the cancellation of the Xbox versions of Steam-Heart’s Saturn Tribute and ADVANCED V.G. Saturn Tribute, which were initially scheduled for release in May 2025 alongside the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC versions.

The reason for the cancellation is a request from Microsoft to censor the games, as they were considered too provocative. The release date for the first game, Steam-Heart’s Saturn Tribute, has been confirmed for May 29, 2025, but there is no release date yet for the second game.

The Censorship Issue

In a post on X, they explained that due to the nature of these games—revivals of older works with provocative content—the development continued with the goal of offering a common gaming experience across all platforms. However, it was noted that, despite adapting the content to meet the standards of each platform, it was determined that the Xbox versions required too many changes.

“It was a difficult decision, but a necessary one. We sincerely apologize to everyone who was eagerly waiting for the Xbox versions,” the statement continued. “We hope to continue bringing our titles to every platform, including Xbox, and kindly ask for your understanding.”

The Nature of the Games

Though Steam-Heart’s and ADVANCED V.G. Saturn Tribute are very different games (the first being a bullet hell shooter and the second a 2D fighting game), both were originally developed by the Japanese company Technical Group Laboratory (TGL) and its adult games subsidiary, Giga. As a result, both games contain eroge elements, such as characters in revealing outfits, erotic scenes, and other explicit and suggestive content.

This is not the first time a video game has been censored for its sexual content. However, it remains unclear exactly what Microsoft requested from City Connection in order to allow the two titles to be released on Xbox.