Google has removed the visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club from its Play Store, citing alleged violations of its terms of service.
The game was taken off the Play Store on Wednesday, April 8. Originally launched on PC in 2017, it was later released on iOS, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation in December.
In a joint statement, DDLC’s creator Dan Salvato and publisher Serenity Forge said “the game’s content violates their terms of service in its depiction of sensitive themes.”
“DDLC is widely celebrated for portraying mental health in a way that meaningfully connects deeply with players around the world, helping them feel heard, understood, and less alone on their journey.”
“DDLC is available on many different major platforms,” they continued. We’re continuing to do everything we can to find a path forward for getting DDLC reinstated on the Google Play Store. Meanwhile, we’re also looking into potential options for alternate methods of distribution on Android devices.”
They concluded: “We worked hard to bring DDLC to Android, and we’ve gotten so much love and enthusiasm from passionate Android users over the past few months. We’ll keep you updated on the future of DDLC for Android.”
GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Google for further clarification regarding its decision.