Released in 2024, qureate's "Bunny Garden" quickly became a viral hit, with streamers and VTubers alike jumping on the bandwagon to broadcast this "gentlemanly" title. Its hostess club-themed, suggestive bishojo gameplay sparked widespread buzz. Now, the highly anticipated sequel, "Bunny Garden 2," is set to launch on Nintendo Switch and Steam on April 16.
Yujiro Usuda, president and producer at qureate, recently sat down with Famitsu to spill the tea on the new game and share just how tough it is to make "a bit naughty" games these days, especially with platforms tightening their content review policies.
When asked if qureate's creative direction had become more conservative after the "beat refle Massage Man" controversy a few years back, Usuda explained that while they definitely learned from past experiences, they're not about to dial back their content entirely.
Back then, the approach was more like "if it feels fun and can generate buzz, let's do it." But they later realized this could make some players uncomfortable and expose content to unintended audiences. Now, the focus isn't on censorship, but on finding ways to be "not offensive while still retaining our unique flavor." After all, if they completely changed their style, these "gentlemanly" games would lose their raison d'être.
▼ "beat refle Massage Man" faced backlash for being overly suggestive.
During development, the qureate team often brainstorms some truly wild ideas—some that, frankly, "should never see the light of day." They then refine these concepts into something usable. But the biggest hurdle? "Adjusting the game to meet platform guidelines." For "Bunny Garden 2," for instance, the Steam and Switch versions will differ due to varying censorship standards.
Usuda stated, "We don't intentionally push the boundaries of platforms or review bodies, nor do we aim for content that's 'barely suggestive.' We communicate beforehand to confirm what's acceptable, but we also test the waters to see how far we can go within our creative vision."
While games with suggestive or "gentlemanly" content often hit snags during release, qureate is well aware that their core audience loves these types of titles. So, whether it's "heavy censorship" or "not making them at all," neither is a good option for players or developers.
Usuda put it bluntly: "I know many people want to play not just qureate's games, but all sorts of works with a touch of eroticism. If we only focused on 'not making anyone uncomfortable' and ended up watering down the content, or even stopped making them altogether, then no one wins."
Therefore, their goal is to continue exploring suitable forms of expression within current regulations while still creating engaging games. Producer Yujiro Usuda even added, "Bunny girls can save the world!" It seems the success of "Bunny Garden" has truly left the qureate team absolutely thrilled.
For players who loved the sexy, gentlemanly interactive experience of "Bunny Garden," this sequel looks like a fully upgraded version. With new characters, fresh presentation styles, and even more characters joining the fray, it seems your wallets are about to take a hit! The game drops on the 16th, so definitely get ready to dive in!
via： famitsu