Editors Note: Links to Itch.io and Steam will include content that is not safe for work. Reader discretion is advised.
The developers of LIP! Lewd Idol Project have been locked out of their Kickstarter funds by PayPal for being related to “sexual services.”
The adult yuri visual novel’s Kickstarter was 100% funded on October 25th, and would later swell to 369% of the initial funding goal with $35,116 USD, and three volumes. Stretch goals also added two extra chapters to volumes 1 and 2.
Volume 1 is currently available on Itch.io and Steam, along with demos [1, 2]. The game focuses on aspiring idol Kairi, who recently moved to Akihabara to realize her dream. However, she has been rejected by 15 different idol studios so far.
Self-proclaimed lewd producer Ranko offers to help Kairi by having her join LIP! Lewd Idol Project. As both hope to reach their idol goals, they deal with adult life with an adult idol group. The game features branching paths controlling Kairi and Ranko, uncensored yuri CGs, alternative costumes, crane and gacha mini-games, partial Japanese voice acting, and a relationship meter between the girls.
On July 6th, developer Toffer Team revealed that PayPal had permanently locked their account, including the remaining Kickstarter funds for the game. In a tweet and Kickstarter update they explained that this was due to PayPal accusing their project of being related to “sexual services.”
On Twitter, Toffer showed their frustration with how mainstream platforms are against sexual anime content, and there being no way to now access that money.
“Honestly, I’m so tired of having almost all the mainstream platforms censoring, persecuting, and marginalizing creators just because we’re making artistic, adult, or anime-style content.
We have already seen that in countless examples in the past few years.Being left out of the platform is not the problem, the problem is they have locked all our funds we were using to work and they won’t allow us to withdraw or use any of it. They have literally tied our hands and deprived [us] of whatever money we needed to fulfill our future releases.
The fund we had thanks to the love and support of our fans and followers, who used they [sic] hard earned money to support us and our dream project.”
Toffer also notes this came without any prior notice, and “without any chance of reply.” Toffer implored others to share their message “so no other lewd content creator is left unaware of the nefarious way this company operates. […] Today it was us, but tomorrow it could be any other.” Nonetheless, Toffer state they will not give up.
We shall be interviewing Toffer Team about the situation. We shall keep you informed as we learn more.
Once again, LIP! Lewd Idol Project Vol. 1 is available on Windows PC, Linux, and Mac (all via Itch.io, and Steam), and is currently 20% off until July 8th. Demos are available via Itch.io, and Google Drive.
