Developer NEKO WORKs and publisher Sekai Project are currently stuck in limbo with the release of Nekopara After: La Vraie Famille. The visual novel, previously scheduled to launch on PC via Steam on May 22, 2025, has been delayed indefinitely due to unresolved issues with Valve’s review process.
Despite having a live Steam store page, Nekopara After has yet to receive full approval for release. NEKO WORKs issued a statement explaining that the team is still waiting on clearance and that no new release date can be announced at this time. The original Japanese announcement simply noted, “Due to delays in the Steam review process, the release date for Nekopara After is still to be decided.”
Sekai Project followed up with a breakdown of their submission timeline. The game’s build was first submitted to Valve on May 5. Nine days later, Valve requested save file data, which Sekai Project provided just two hours later. Since then, no further communication has been received. “If there’s any other questions we’ll try to answer them.”
Frustration is mounting among fans, with many demanding more transparency from the publisher. Sekai Project has reiterated that all available information has already been shared publicly. For a niche visual novel like Nekopara, launching on Steam is especially crucial, visibility and sales on platforms like GOG or a proprietary storefront generally fall short compared to Valve’s marketplace.
New Entry Continues Long-Running Series
Nekopara After: La Vraie Famille was originally announced as downloadable content for Nekopara Vol. 4 but evolved into a standalone follow-up to celebrate the series’ 10th anniversary. The story centers around Fraise, a catgirl left in the care of protagonist Kashou Minaduki after the closure of La Soleil’s French branch. Romantic tension brews as Fraise competes with Kashou’s six other catpanions for attention, all while grappling with advice from his sister Shigure, who secretly harbors her own feelings for him.
The game features character designs by series creator Sayori, writing by Murasaki Yukiya, and a new theme song titled “Contrail,” performed by Ceui. It includes animated character sprites, full Japanese voice acting (excluding Kashou), and multilingual text support in English, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese.
How do you feel about this delay? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to Noisy Pixel for further updates on Nekopara After: La Vraie Famille.
