Just weeks before its scheduled November 27 release, LoveR Kiss Endless Memories has been removed from Steam. The dating sim from publisher Dragami Games had a store page, promotional materials ready, and fans waiting to wishlist it. Then suddenly on October 24, the page vanished without explanation from Valve. The developer confirmed the ban on October 27, stating that due to various circumstances, releasing on Steam has become difficult.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. LoveR Kiss Endless Memories was going to be the first English-language release of a popular Japanese romance simulation series that’s been around since 2019. The game features high school photography club members forming relationships with seven different heroines through a combination of visual novel storytelling and photo-taking gameplay. There’s no explicit adult content, no violence, just teenage romance and lots of pictures.
What Actually Got Banned
LoveR Kiss Endless Memories is the third game in a series created by Ichiro Sugiyama, the developer behind classic dating sims like KimiKiss and True Love Story. The protagonist is a second-year high school student who finds a DSLR camera and joins the photography club. Through photographing various girls and spending time with them, relationships develop over the course of two months leading up to a school festival confession.
The gameplay revolves around taking photos of the heroines in different locations, outfits, and poses. This upgraded version includes new photo spots, costumes, improved physics simulation, and a Pro Photo Session mode that gives instant access to all subjects, locations, and equipment. Almost all previously released DLC is bundled in, making it the definitive edition of the series.
The game features anime-style high school girls who can be dressed in various outfits, including swimwear and bikinis. Characters are photographed in different poses and angles. According to multiple sources, this appears to be what triggered Valve’s removal. The combination of high school setting, customizable revealing costumes, and photography mechanics likely violated whatever internal guidelines Valve uses for content moderation.
The Official Statement
Dragami Games issued a brief statement confirming that due to various circumstances, it has become difficult to release LoveR Kiss Endless Memories on Steam. The company didn’t provide specific reasons for the ban or details about what Valve objected to. They did confirm they’re exploring alternative PC platforms and will announce details as soon as decisions are finalized.
The vague wording suggests either Valve didn’t provide clear reasoning, or Dragami Games is choosing not to publicly share the specifics. This lack of transparency is frustrating for fans who had the game wishlisted and were looking forward to the first official English translation of the series.
What makes this particularly confusing is that the game passed Steam’s initial review process and had an active store page for months. The demo was supposed to launch during Steam Next Fest in October but was mysteriously delayed. Players suspected something was wrong then, and their concerns turned out to be justified when the entire page disappeared shortly after.
The PlayStation Censorship History
This isn’t the first time the LoveR series has faced content moderation issues. The original LoveR and LoveR Kiss both released on PlayStation 4, but the PS4 versions were censored compared to the Nintendo Switch editions. Camera angles were adjusted, certain costumes were removed or modified, and some game modes were restricted due to Sony’s stricter content policies for Japanese games that started around 2018.
Sony’s censorship became so restrictive that Dragami Games decided not to release LoveR Kiss Endless Memories on PlayStation 5 at all. The plan was to offer uncensored versions on Nintendo Switch and Steam, where content policies have historically been more lenient toward Japanese games with suggestive but non-explicit content. That strategy worked for Switch but clearly failed with Valve.
The developers have been vocal in the past about refusing to compromise their creative vision. Back when Western releases were being considered for earlier LoveR titles, the creators stated they would rather not release the game internationally at all than modify content to meet Western standards. That stance makes the Steam ban particularly unfortunate, as it blocks access for Western fans who were finally going to get an official English release.
The Payment Processor Question
Industry observers have pointed to changes in how credit card companies and payment processors evaluate gaming content. Earlier in 2025, there were reports that Visa and Mastercard were pressuring digital storefronts to restrict certain types of content, particularly games featuring sexualized depictions of characters who could be interpreted as minors, even if they’re fictional.
Some community discussions suggest Valve may be preemptively removing games that could cause problems with payment processors rather than fighting individual battles over content. If banks threaten to cut off payment processing for hosting certain games, platforms have little choice but to comply or risk losing their ability to process transactions entirely.
This creates an impossible situation for developers. Their games don’t violate any laws. They’re rated appropriately in their home countries. But if payment processors decide they’re uncomfortable facilitating transactions for that content, suddenly lawful games become commercially unviable on certain platforms.
Still Launching on Nintendo
Despite the Steam ban, LoveR Kiss Endless Memories is still launching as planned on November 27 for Nintendo Switch. A Switch 2 enhanced version has also been announced with higher resolution and improved frame rates, upgradable from the original Switch version. Physical copies are available for pre-order in Japan through retailers like Play-Asia with full English language support.
Nintendo’s approval of the game while Valve banned it highlights the inconsistency in content moderation across platforms. The same game with identical content is acceptable on family-friendly Nintendo hardware but too problematic for PC distribution through Steam. This discrepancy makes it difficult for developers to predict what will or won’t pass platform review.
For Western fans who wanted to play the game in English, importing the Switch physical version remains an option. The Japanese release includes English language support specifically for international players, and region-free Switch systems mean imports work without modification. It’s more expensive and less convenient than a digital Steam purchase would have been, but it’s currently the only way to legally access the English version.
Community Reaction
The Reddit and social media response has been predictably divided. Some players argue that games featuring high school characters in swimsuits shouldn’t be distributed on mainstream platforms regardless of whether explicit content is present. Others point out that countless games on Steam feature similar content without issues, and that cultural differences between Japanese and Western markets create unfair double standards.
Several users noted the irony that Steam hosts games with extreme violence, gore, and mature themes without controversy, yet romantic games featuring fully clothed anime characters trigger bans. The argument isn’t about whether people should or shouldn’t enjoy this type of content, but about consistency in how platforms apply their policies.
Content creators and gaming journalists covering the ban have been cautious about taking strong stances, with most focusing on reporting the facts rather than defending or condemning either Valve’s decision or the game’s content. The situation touches on complicated issues involving cultural differences, content moderation, corporate liability, and freedom of creative expression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was LoveR Kiss Endless Memories banned from Steam?
Valve hasn’t provided an official explanation. Based on the game’s content featuring high school characters in revealing costumes like swimsuits and bikinis, it likely violated Steam’s content guidelines or policies related to payment processor requirements.
Does LoveR Kiss Endless Memories contain adult content?
No. The game is explicitly not an adult title. It’s a romance simulation game featuring teenage characters in a high school setting with no explicit sexual content.
Can I still buy LoveR Kiss Endless Memories?
Yes, but only on Nintendo Switch. The game launches November 27, 2025 with English language support. Physical copies can be imported from Japanese retailers. A Switch 2 version is also planned.
Will LoveR Kiss Endless Memories release on other PC platforms?
Dragami Games stated they’re considering alternative PC platforms and will announce details once finalized. Potential options could include GOG, Epic Games Store, or direct sales through their own website.
Is this the first time a LoveR game faced censorship issues?
No. Previous entries in the series were censored on PlayStation 4 compared to Switch versions. LoveR Kiss Endless Memories isn’t even releasing on PlayStation 5 due to Sony’s restrictive content policies.
Has Steam banned similar games before?
Yes. Valve has removed various Japanese visual novels and dating sims over the years, though policies seem inconsistently applied. Some games with similar content remain available while others get banned without clear explanation.
What happens to people who wishlisted the game on Steam?
When a game is removed from Steam, wishlist entries are automatically deleted. Anyone who had LoveR Kiss Endless Memories on their wishlist would have received no notification before it disappeared.
Final Thoughts
The LoveR Kiss Endless Memories ban represents ongoing tension between Japanese game developers and Western digital distribution platforms over what content is acceptable. These aren’t fringe products made by unknown creators. LoveR is a legitimate series from respected developers with a decade-plus pedigree in the romance simulation genre. The games have been sold through major retailers in Japan without controversy.
What makes situations like this frustrating is the lack of clear, consistent standards. Developers can’t know in advance what will pass or fail platform review. Games get approved for store pages, only to be pulled weeks before launch with vague explanations. Meanwhile, other titles with similar or more explicit content remain available without issues.
For Dragami Games, this ban means lost revenue from the PC market and disappointed fans who were excited for the first official English release. For players, it means either importing expensive physical Switch copies or missing out entirely. For the industry, it’s another example of how cultural differences and corporate liability concerns create unpredictable barriers for Japanese games trying to reach Western audiences.
Whether you think Steam made the right call or not probably depends on your views about content moderation, cultural context, and how platforms should handle games that fall into grey areas between acceptable and problematic. What’s undeniable is that the current system of vague guidelines and inconsistent enforcement creates problems for developers and players alike. The LoveR Kiss situation won’t be the last time this happens, and until platforms provide clearer standards, similar bans will continue catching everyone by surprise.