Japanese banks refuse Steam revenue, delaying indie game release

Indie game developer Noame Takii has announced a delay for the Steam title ‘Watashitachi Fake Marriage?’ due to ongoing issues with Japanese banks refusing to process sales revenue. Although the game is a general-audience yuri romance adventure without adult content, the developer reported that Shinsei Bank refused deposits after reviewing materials related to Takii’s other, adult-oriented works.

In an attempt to resolve the issue, the publisher, Sekai Project, attempted to route funds through Japan Post Bank. However, this also resulted in a refusal of service following a document review. Takii noted that while small payments from the publisher have been accepted, the inability to receive Steam sales revenue poses a significant threat to current and future projects.

Former lawmaker and freedom of expression activist Yoshiyuki Kurishita commented on the situation, suggesting that while increased government anti-money laundering measures may be a factor, the obstruction of legal transactions is a serious concern. The incident highlights growing tensions between financial institutions and digital content creators regarding content-based risk assessments.