Roblox quietly removes Rent-A-Girlfriend license after players question mature

Roblox has removed Rent-A-Girlfriend from its creator licensing catalog days after announcing the anime as one of four new Kodansha properties, following player questions about whether its mature themes fit the platform’s safety rules.

On September 12, Roblox announced an expansion to its licensing platform that would let eligible creators use established entertainment brands in their experiences. Developers could also sell licensed game passes and developer products, with rights holders receiving a share of revenue from those sales.

The original Roblox Developer Forum announcement listed four Kodansha franchises: Fairy Tail, Rent-A-Girlfriend, Knights of Sidonia, and Ghost Encyclopedia. The announcement concerned creator licensing and did not confirm that Roblox was developing an official Rent-A-Girlfriend game.

Rent-A-Girlfriend follows college student Kazuya Kinoshita, who rents a girlfriend after a breakup. While the series is categorized as a romantic comedy, BBFC classifications flag strong sex references, sexualized imagery, masturbation references, and sexual threat in several episodes.

Players questioned whether the license could fit Roblox’s rules

The announcement quickly drew criticism from Roblox players and creators. One widely shared reaction from Roblox commentator Greenlegocats said: “The entire concept of it goes against Roblox’s policies. Even the name does.”

https://twitter.com/greenlegocats/status/2099222183184908490?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Several replies on the Roblox forum questioned how developers could use the property without violating Roblox’s rules on dating and sexual content. Some users argued that the license should be restricted to adults, while others said the anime’s central premise could not be represented accurately on an all-ages platform.

A screenshot shared in the forum appeared to identify Rent-A-Girlfriend’s maximum content maturity as “Restricted.” Roblox’s Restricted Content Policy allows age-checked users over 18 to access some romantic themes and nonsexual love. However, it prohibits sexual activity, nudity, sexually suggestive behavior, and using Roblox to pursue real-world romantic relationships.

That distinction led to a split reaction. Some players said a heavily adapted, age-rated experience could comply with the rules. Others argued that removing the series’ mature elements would leave little of the original IP intact. Reddit discussions described the partnership as poor public relations for a platform already facing scrutiny over child safety.

Roblox staff responded in the forum that all licensed content must follow the platform’s Community Standards, adding that romantic themes must also comply with the Restricted Content Policy.

Roblox changed the lineup after further review

On September 14, Roblox edited the official forum post and changed its title to “Licensing Platform Update: In-Game Sales License and 3 New Kodansha IPs.”

The updated announcement states: “After further review, we’ve adjusted the initial lineup to three Kodansha franchises.” Rent-A-Girlfriend no longer appears in the list, which now includes Fairy Tail, Knights of Sidonia, and Ghost Encyclopedia.

Roblox did not explain what prompted the review or explicitly say that player backlash caused the change. However, the timing led users on X and Reddit to describe the move as a reversal after the criticism. A later Reddit post highlighted that the license had appeared and disappeared within roughly two days.

Greenlegocats also shared a post showing Rent-A-Girlfriend missing from the catalog, writing that Roblox had “announced it at RDC” before removing it shortly afterward.

https://twitter.com/greenlegocats/status/2099687122852810817?utm_source=chatgpt.com

For now, Roblox’s public licensing announcement lists three Kodansha franchises, with no Rent-A-Girlfriend license available. The quick reversal highlights the tension between Roblox’s push to expand branded content and the restrictions it places on mature themes across its largely youth-oriented platform.