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Senran Kagura Producer Kenichiro Takaki Leaves Marvelous, Joins Cygames

This week's issue of Kadokawa's Weekly Famitsu magazine revealed on Thursday that Senran Kagura series producer Kenichirō Takaki is leaving Marvelous, and is joining Cygames to work on console game projects. In an interview in the issue, Takaki noted that he will still work on Senran Kagura titles currently in production "up to a certain point."

He elaborated on the future prospects for release of the Senran Kagura 7even -Shōjo-tachi no Kōfuku- (Senran Kagura 7even: Girls' Happiness) game, saying that currently the path to the game being an "evolution" of the main series is "closed." He added he will give the game time, and mused that societal trends may change once again in a few years. In the meantime, he said that he is working on the aspects of the game that will not require any change, such as the characters, story, or the base of the game's system. He concluded that whether it is him, or someone other than him, the game will someday be finished.

Takaki noted that his main reason for leaving Marvelous was due to restrictions in the depiction of sexual content, which he said were suddenly imposed on him last year and led to "a thread inside of [him] snapping." He said that, while there is a lot to criticize in sexual content in games, and that he is fine with restrictions on certain genres and other fields, there are many who enjoy sexual content in games. He added that the Senran Kagura series was originally made while consulting the other companies involved and suggesting that "it's alright for games like this to exist." Takaki said that varied content is what gives the video game industry its charm. He questioned whether a Senran Kagura game made under the current restrictions will still be acknowledged by fans as a Senran Kagura game, especially since the new game is a numbered main game in the series. He said that while the sexual aspect of the series is only "about 10 to 20%" of the series, he still refused to make an entry in the series without any sexual elements, as it would "not be Senran Kagura."

Takaki said that he is currently not the only producer for the series, and that there are other assistant producers who have had a hand in the series' development in past installments. For now, he will continue work under his official title as "big boobs producer," and will leave the adjustment of small details of the series to Marvelous. Takaki will still be credited for "original work" on the series.

Takai noted that in the future, he wants to work on a traditional fantasy game, but has so far not had a chance to do so.

He previously stated in an interview in February that the original concept for the Senran Kagura 7even -Shōjo-tachi no Kōfuku- game was changed as the original concept could not currently be released. He also stated his thoughts on Sony's new stance on adult and sexual content in games in the February interview. The game was originally slated for release on the PlayStation 4 in fall 2018, but it did not make the release date. Marvelous has not announced a new release date for the game.

The Senran Kagura Shinovi Master anime premiered in Japan last October, and Crunchyroll streamed both censored and uncensored versions of the anime.

Takaki also served as representative director of Marvelous' Honey∞Parade Games subsidiary, which was formed for the production and promotion of the Senran Kagura series.

Source: Weekly Famitsu 4/11 issue (news tip via Gematsu)