Yandere Simulator, a stealth game that has been in development for almost a decade, is facing significant challenges as key voice actors and developers leave the project following grooming allegations against its creator, Alex Mahan, also known as Yandere Dev. The game, which gained popularity in 2016 for its unique and humorous stealth gameplay, follows a high school girl named Ayano Aishi, who has an unhealthy obsession with her upperclassman, Taro.
The allegations against Mahan surfaced when a video containing details of his alleged inappropriate interactions with a minor was posted on YouTube. The allegations stem from conversations between Mahan, 35, and a 16-year-old fan who goes by the alias “Jane.” Video and audio recordings of their interactions reveal Mahan frequently calling Jane “cute” and steering conversations in an overtly sexual direction. In the leaked audio, Mahan defends attraction to minors, stating, “Mother nature sexualizes children” before puberty. Screenshots also show Snapchat messages where Mahan encourages Jane to send him revealing videos and photos.
In a public statement, Mahan admits having “inappropriate” chats with Jane, chalking it up to “vulgar jokes” he’d make with adult friends. However, he denies grooming intentions, claiming he saw Jane as “one of the guys” and should have ceased contact, realizing she was underage. Mahan apologizes for this “mistake” and pledges a donation to an abuse survivor charity.
As a result of the allegations, many significant figures behind Yandere Simulator have left the project. High-profile Yandere Simulator collaborators, like voice actress Michaela Laws, have abandoned the project in light of the scandal. YouTube streamers who regularly covered the game, like Bijuu Mike have also withdrawn support.
It is hard to know the future of Yandere Simulator, but in an odd twist to the situation, Jane has taken to the Yandere Simulator subreddit to defend Mahan. She goes on to detail how she was not groomed due to her initiating contact and “illegally” recording Mahan. She also is critical of AllyMcC and her friends for sharing the private recordings.
While the legal system has yet to weigh in, the damage is done to Yandere Simulator‘s reputation. It seems unlikely the game will ever see a full release. Developer YandereDev continues working alone on the game but has lost years of progress as team members resign over the scandal. After such a long and turbulent development, combined with the loss of key support, it is difficult to imagine the game will ever be completed.
Yandere Simulator first gained attention in 2015 as a highly anticipated video game that allowed players to control a Japanese high school student named Ayano “Yan-Chan” Aishi. The objective of the game is to eliminate other students who compete for her love interest. Much like a mix of Bully and Hitman, the game has you going about your day at school while slowly killing other potential love interests. Despite its long development time, the game has yet to be released, although some of the game is playable.
The Yandere Simulator controversy raises important questions about content creators engaging with underage fans online. Even if Mahan did not intend harm, he showed poor judgment by privately communicating and crossing boundaries with a young female follower. There is never an acceptable reason for an adult to flirt or make sexual remarks to minors, especially given the inherent power imbalance.
Content creators must set clear boundaries to avoid any semblance of impropriety. When that trust is violated, as this case demonstrates, the consequences can be irreversible. Moving forward, online influencers should establish ethical guidelines regarding appropriate interactions with impressionable underage followers.
