Defending waifus and action-packed games has never been easy, but Kenichiro Takaki is one industry figure who doesn’t hold back in defending his work. The renowned creator looked back to recall how a certain sector of the gaming industry tried to belittle his projects for years simply for embracing fanservice and ecchi content.

Kenichiro Takaki shared a direct reflection on social media about the era when he developed entries in series like Senran Kagura and Ikkitousen. The producer remembered that back then, there was a closed-off atmosphere in the industry, where even several traditional developers promoted the idea that games focused on attractive girls and erotica didn’t deserve to be considered real video games.

With a touch of irony, the creator posed a question to his followers, wondering if the same people who heavily criticized his projects are still active in the industry or if they continue developing titles without any trouble. The statement resonated strongly with fans of the genre, who vividly remember how the creator has defended content freedom against the wave of censorship affecting modern consoles.

This firm stance against restrictions was the very trigger that changed the course of his career. In 2019, after thirteen years at Marvelous and leading Honey Parade Games, Takaki decided to leave and join Cygames. At the time, he explained frankly that the increasing censorship and limitations on erotic content on major platforms made it harder to create the games he was passionate about. Currently, he is focused on directing Garnet Arena: Mages of Magicary, an action-fantasy title.

Senran Kagura is a famous action game franchise that debuted in September 2011 with its first installment for Nintendo 3DS, recently celebrating its fifteenth anniversary. Created by Kenichiro Takaki, the series became a benchmark by combining dynamic ninja combat with a distinct ecchi aesthetic, special transformations, and a clothing destruction system during battles. Over the years, the brand expanded with sequels on multiple consoles, anime adaptations, and various spin-off projects.

Do you think games with ecchi and waifus are still judged unfairly in today’s industry?