Shiravune Poised to Butcher ToHeart Remake with English Localization – Launching June 26th on PC

Shiravune has announced that the Aquaplus-developed romance visual novel remake of ToHeart will be released in the West on PC via Steam with a complete English translation with a release date of June 26, 2025.

While this news might initially excite fans of the genre-defining 1997 classic by Leaf, if history has taught us anything about Shiravune’s localization practices, it’s that no visual novel is safe from their bastardization. With the announcement that they will be handling the Western release of Aquaplus’ ToHeart remake, fans of the genre-defining 1997 classic have every reason to brace for the worst.

Given Shiravune’s track record of injecting their localizations with out-of-pocket Western slang, modern internet buzzwords, their cultural imperialist fanfiction not only desecrates the source material they’re “translating” but proactively are made in a way that’s demeaning and derogatory towards the consumers themselves as Shiravune have made it their mission to deliberately mistranslate the material with insults aimed directly towards consumers by calling them “incel” and “pedo.”

ToHeart, a pivotal title that shaped the modern visual novel landscape seems destined to suffer a fate far removed from its original intent with its remake.

ToHeart was more than just another visual novel—its 1997 release by Leaf marked a turning point in the genre’s evolution. Unlike its predecessors, Shizuku and Kizuato, which leaned into darker, more experimental storytelling, ToHeart introduced a lighter, character-driven romance set in a modern high school.

By prioritizing emotional connection over intricate plot twists, ToHeart helped define the template for modern romance visual novels. It also played a key role in popularizing the heroine-centric route structure, refining branching narratives into a more accessible, character-focused experience.

Moreover, ToHeart played a crucial role in shaping “moe” aesthetics, with the beloved HMX-12 maid robot, Multi, serving as a defining example. Its influence extended far beyond its time, paving the way for titles like Kanon and countless other works within the medium.

Even the term “visual novel” gained traction in the West partly due to ToHeart’s legacy. Leaf’s decision to market it under the “Visual Novel Series” label helped distinguish the genre from Japan’s broader “adventure game” and “sound novel” classifications.

With its 1999 anime adaptation, sequels, and extensive merchandise further cementing its impact, this modern remake has big expectations to meet.

The ToHeart remake introduces significant changes, the most striking being its full 3D aesthetic. To call it a drastic departure from the original’s 2D style would be an understatement.

Personally, I appreciate the new 3D approach, Japanese 3D animation has improved remarkably in recent years, as seen in currently airing adaptations like Medalist and Girls Band Cry. However, my personal preference is beside the point.

ToHeart’s remake isn’t a standalone visual novel; it’s a reimagining of a beloved cult classic, by completely abandoning a 2D aesthetic in favor of an undeniably beautiful 3D style contradicts the very essence of the original.

While this modernization is done purely to attract new audiences, it risks alienating longtime fans who cherished the original’s aesthetic. The remake does offer some promising elements, such as the ability to switch between new and original voice actors, but in the end, it prioritizes modernization and broad appeal over faithfulness.

Something made even clearer by this official side-by-side comparison video between ToHeart and its upcoming 3D remake.

Coincidentally, another influential romance visual novel, 1994’s Tokimeki Memorial, is also receiving a remake. This classic introduced a fresh approach to the genre, allowing players to manage stats like academics, athletics, and charm in order to win the affection of various heroines within a high school setting.

Titled Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You Emotional, the remake is set to release exclusively in Japan for the Nintendo Switch later this year. Notably, it remains faithful to its roots, preserving its 2D aesthetic and classic character designs, an approach that stands in stark contrast to ToHeart’s full 3D overhaul.

While modernization is understandable, ToHeart’s visual overhaul raises concerns about whether the essence of the original experience will remain intact. And given Shiravune’s involvement, the script itself may be even more unrecognizable to fans than the graphics.

Shiravune’s track record as a localizer is already heavily criticized. Their past releases have been plagued with intentional mistranslations and unnecessary Westernizations that alienate their audience. Fans have already endured their heavy-handed rewrites, where terms like doutei (virgin) are replaced with “incel,” and lolicon is inaccurately rendered as “pedo.”

The inclusion of out-of-place remarks and bizarre Western internet slang has transformed what should be faithful translations into unrecognizable cultural Frankensteins that desecrate the source material. With ToHeart, we can expect nothing less than another hack job given Shiravune’s history, it wouldn’t be surprising if they injected dialogue with modern slang, unnecessary political references, or outright fabricated insults toward the player.

Visual novel fans have witnessed this pattern countless times, and there is no reason to believe Shiravune will suddenly change course. In a recent Famitsu interview, Aquaplus hinted that a ToHeart 2 remake could be considered if this first remake performs well. However, given its divisive new art style and the fact that Western fans who can’t read Japanese are better off boycotting it out of sheer spite for Shiravune, its financial success remains uncertain.

Another issue with the modern visual novel industry regarding complete remakes like this one or modernized re-releases with widescreen support and higher-resolution CGs, one thing remains consistent: censorship.

The recent HD re-releases of Kanon and Rumbling Hearts both legendary titles in their own right have been stripped of their romantic climaxes, explicit CGs depicting intimacy, and even entire character routes if they contained mature themes or featured certain themes with loli heroines.

The Western Kanon release on Nintendo Switch, for instance, was apparently still not censored enough to align with Nintendo of America’s increasingly restrictive standards. As a result, PROTOTYPE implemented further cuts, removing bath scenes (despite no nudity), romantic moments like kisses, and even toning down harsh language and crude jokes.

The ToHeart remake follows the same pattern as many modern visual novel remakes. While the 1997 original featured a distinctly ’90s art style and was initially released as an 18+ visual novel with explicit content, the remake is instead based on the censored PS1 console version, completely removing those scenes but instead added character voices, minigames and expanding upon Multi’s route while also adding an additional route with Tomoko Hoshina.

However, it remains to be seen which other iconic CG scenes various romantic routes will be adjusted, altered, or outright removed in this 3D remake, despite their presence in the censored console ports.

Beyond the removal of explicit content, there are other notable changes that further separate the remake from the original. For example, the replacement of bloomers with shorts for ToHeart‘s new 3D character models may suggest a shift in the remake’s overall direction.

For loyal fans of the original, the idea of Shiravune using the ToHeart remake as a platform to inject Western slang and distort its narrative with unfaithful fanfiction is likely enough to drive them away, especially with the added layer of an all-ages release and additional censorship on top.

However, there may still be hope for those who remain interested or seek alternatives through piracy.

History has shown that when localizers fail, fan communities often step up. If Shiravune inevitably tarnishes ToHeart’s legacy, de-localization patches will likely emerge, restoring the script to its original intent. Additionally, if the remake is built using Unity, modders will likely have the necessary tools to undo any damage done by Shiravune’s version of the “translation” shortly after release.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to experience ToHeart in its original form, obtaining the original PC release can be quite challenging. A fan-made English translation is still in development, meaning this iconic visual novel remains accessible only in Japanese, whether on PC or the original PlayStation (Disc 1, Disc 2).

However, because I’m feeling generous, I’ve included download links for your convenience.

Whether through fan patches or piracy, the visual novel community has demonstrated time and again that it will not tolerate the degradation of beloved works. While Shiravune may think it controls the fate of these releases, history shows that the fans always come out on top in the end.

The ToHeart remake’s future remains uncertain, but one thing is for sure: the combination of Western puritanism and Shiravune’s involvement will surely stir controversy and lead to lost sales.