The mobile strategy RPG Brown Dust 2 is facing intense backlash from its community following a developer announcement on January 10 detailing widespread content alterations, including censored outfits, skill cutscenes, and the removal of a popular minigame. Players accuse the team of betraying long-standing promises to avoid censorship, especially after the game overcame near-shutdown threats from platforms like Steam.
The Spark: 41st Developer Notes Reveal Changes
In their 41st Developer Notes, published on the official website, Neowiz's Brown Dust 2 team confirmed adjustments to several character designs and cutscenes. The changes, prompted by "external warnings" from platforms and regions, include:
| Affected Content | Details |
|---|---|
| White Pure Blessing Refithea | Skill cutscene altered. |
| Teresse (Medical Outfit) | Outfit, skill cutscenes, and Fated Guest interactions modified. |
| Nature's Claw Rou & White Cat Rou | Skill cutscenes revised. |
| New Hire Seir & Demon's Daughter Seir | Skill cutscenes changed. |
| Red Riding Hood Rou & B-Rank Idol Seir | Newly added to the censorship list (not in initial announcement). |
| Slap Slap Pop Minigame | Fully removed, cited as promoting "objectification of women" and inappropriate actions. |
| Liberta Prestige Skin | Withdrawn due to "sensory deprivation" concept deemed too intense; to be redesigned for later release. |
The devs emphasized that these steps were taken to prevent service shutdowns from spreading across regions or platforms, taking full responsibility for the decision. They also removed character age labels to avoid "underage ambiguity" and assured no further changes to clearly adult characters, while committing to the game's "fun and sexy" identity.
To mitigate backlash, compensation was offered: 16,000 free diamonds (2,000 per affected costume), 100 draw tickets for all players, and full refunds (including materials) for owners of censored costumes, claimable until January 21.
Broken Promises Fuel the Fire
The announcement stunned fans, who recalled devs' defiant stance during 2025 Steam disputes. At the time, the team vowed to "let the game die" rather than censor content, prioritizing their vision over platform compliance. Brown Dust 2 had surged in popularity, hitting record revenues in December 2025, largely thanks to its unapologetic fanservice appealing to a dedicated "gooner" audience.
Outrage exploded on X, Reddit, and YouTube. Players shared uninstall videos, 1-star reviews, and boycott calls, branding the move a "betrayal" and predicting end-of-service (EOS). Highlights from the backlash:
- "Brown Dust 2 bends to censorship... Used loli concerns as a smokescreen to justify censoring everything."
- "PLAYERS DO NOT WANT COMPENSATION. THEY WANT THE GAME THEY LOVE."
- "This is a big 'F YOU' to players... Now let me attach an image of what their community thinks."
Communities like r/gachagaming decried the "slippery slope," noting censored paid content (e.g., $60+ skins) and fears of toned-down future Fated Guests (intimate character stories). Some speculated payment processors or UK regulations influenced the pivot, despite the game's launcher bypassing some restrictions.
The Apology and Urgent Live Stream: Developers Revert Changes
On January 12, at approximately 12:30 PM +07 time, the official Brown Dust 2 X account (@BROWNDUST2_EN) posted a heartfelt apology, announcing an "Urgent Live Announcement."
"First and foremost, we sincerely apologize for the disappointment and concern we have caused to many of our players. Over the weekend, we carefully reviewed all valuable feedback... we held internal meetings... we will address the revised plans regarding content changes through an official broadcast."
The live stream, hosted by Project Director Jun-hee Lee, aired on January 12 at 10:00 AM UTC (5:00 PM +07) on the official YouTube channel. It was in Korean, with subtitles added later, and followed by a summarizing Developer Note.
During the stream, the developers apologized profusely and announced a full reversal of the proposed censorship changes due to overwhelming player feedback. They confirmed that no outfits, cutscenes, or minigames would be altered or removed globally. Instead, they plan to offer two client versions: an uncensored version for most players and a censored one only in regions where local laws mandate it. This ensures the game's original "fun and sexy" identity remains intact for the majority of the community.
Player reactions post-stream have been largely positive, with many celebrating the "win" for the community and the developers' responsiveness. However, some skepticism remains regarding implementation details.
What's Next for Brown Dust 2?
The game's future hangs in the balance. Once a beacon for uncensored gacha fans, it now risks alienating its core amid whispers of EOS. The live could salvage trust with concessions like optional toggles or reverts, but doubling down might accelerate uninstalls.
As the broadcast approaches, the community watches closely. Will Brown Dust 2 reclaim its "Full Burst" spirit, or fade into censorship infamy? Updates will follow post-stream.