Bank Blocks Money from Japanese Developer Because of His Characters’ Appearance

A Japanese adult game developer had their money blocked by a bank, and you might think: “didn’t we already publish this story?” Why are we covering it again? The reason is that this time, the bank blocked earnings from the safe version of the game.

Bank Blocks Money from Japanese Developer Because of His Characters’ Appearance

The case involves independent developer Mousou no Mayu, who created the game “Hustle Battle: Card Gamers”. The title was originally released on adult platforms in Japan, such as DLsite and Fanza, and later received a version adapted for all audiences on Steam, published by Kagura Games, meaning there is no adult content in this version of the game.

According to the developer’s reports, the issue began when an international payment from Steam revenue was blocked by Daishi Hokuetsu Bank. The institution allegedly questioned the nature of the content and began an internal review of the transaction.

Even after explanations that the Steam version was fully adapted for ages 13+ or general audiences, the bank decided to refuse the transaction. The justification was reportedly based on a review of the game’s content, citing concerns about the appearance of the characters.

The case gained even more attention when the bank indicated it could also restrict future domestic transfers, affecting even revenue from other platforms used by the developer. This led the creator to consider switching banks to avoid a complete blockage of income.

In recent months, other Japanese indie developers have reported similar situations, with international payment blocks related to games considered sensitive by financial institutions. This case has led many people to question why banks have the power to simply ban someone in this way.

Local experts and political figures have begun debating whether these actions represent a form of “debanking” without clear criteria, mainly affecting small studios that rely on global payments through platforms like Steam.

You can buy his game on Steam here.