Microsoft’s Demand for Censorship Prompts City Connections to Cancel Anime Retro Remakes for Xbox
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- Microsoft required City Connections to alter provocative content in the anime retro remakes.
- City Connections announced they are no longer releasing the titles on the Xbox One.
- The remakes are for Steam Hearts Saturn Tribute and Advanced Variable Geo Saturn Tribute, which were scheduled for release on Thursday, May 29th.
City Connections announced that they are no longer releasing remakes of Steam Hearts Saturn Tribute and Advanced Variable Geo Saturn Tribute for the Xbox One. This decision was prompted by Microsoft requiring City Connections to alter provocative content in the anime retro remakes – a core characteristic of both titles.
The titles were slated to release on May 29, 2025, as revealed by City Connections’ Twitter post. Both Steam Hearts Saturn Tribute and Advanced Variable Geo Saturn Tribute are still planned for other platforms, including PlayStation 4 and 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The title is for gamers older than the age of 18.
Steam-Heart’s Saturn originally released on March 15, 1994, while Advanced Variable Geo Saturn released on July 22, 1994 – marking more than 30 years since the retro games’ initial debuts. Steam-Heart is part of the shoot ‘em up genre, allowing players to control a flying spaceship and shoot down enemies. Advanced Variable Geo, on the other hand, is a 1v1 fighting game.
The studio responsible for the remake, City Connections, specializes in retro game remakes and re-releases. They play a significant role in preserving classic Japanese video games, making them accessible to the modern audience.
