Google has taken down Doki Doki Literature Club from the Play Store

Image credit: Team Salvato/Serenity Forge

Google has taken down the visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club, or DDLC, from its Play Store. The removal was due to suspected breaches of Google's terms of service.

The removal happened on Wednesday, April 8. After its initial release on PC in 2017, the game became available on iOS, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation in December.

In a joint statement, Dan Salvato, the game's creator, alongside publisher Serenity Forge, explained that "the game allegedly breaches terms due to its portrayal of certain sensitive topics."

The creators noted that "DDLC is praised for tackling mental health issues, providing a sense of recognition and understanding to players globally."

They added: "DDLC can be accessed on several key platforms. We're making every effort to restore its availability on Google Play Store and are exploring alternative distribution methods for Android devices."

Finally, they stated: "We've worked diligently to make DDLC available for Android, receiving tremendous support from Android users. We will provide updates on DDLC's future on Android."

GamesIndustry.biz has contacted Google to get more information about this decision.