With the announcement that DLsite would be suspending support for Western credit cards, overseas men of culture have been seemingly left out to dry, but anatomy enjoyers from Japan and the West have banded together to find alternatives that subvert payment processors.
While the main DLsite website only accepts Japanese credit card JCB now, there is still a way to use VISA or MasterCard to buy DLsite goods, albeit indirectly. It mainly involves using external site DLPay to buy points for DLsite, as that site accepts international options like PayPal.
Asian customers have a few more options, as there are more likely to be importers who stock Japanese web point cards.
One Taiwanese user pointed out that the AFTEE payment method worked in their region, while Hong Kong buyers can buy WebMoney from game shops that import and stock the cards.
DLsite has previously shown that around one-third of their buyers will come from overseas in 2022, meaning this move potentially and likely is already hurting their financial coffers.
In recent years, DLsite has helped create official translations of doujin and other works, which have had surprisingly strong sales numbers, proving once again that piracy is a service problem. However, this service suspension threatens to moot DLsite’s efforts.
Some other reactions from Japanese users:
I see?! I tried using the DLpay method that overseas users taught me, and you can buy points on that site with VISA, so all you need to do after is enter the serial code in order to recharge your account’s points. I tried it with 1000 points, and it worked, so even if it takes an extra step, it’s still possible!
Regarding DLsite, I hope there’s some way to save the overseas readers.
On the topic of DLsite payment, when it comes down to it, overseas buyers are more affected than Japanese readers. They can’t add points via convenience store after all. From how we see that DLsite itself has been doing translations, they were likely trying to open up more to overseas sales.
When you think about it, DLsite had a lot of people accessing from overseas… Just when their translation business was finally getting somewhere…
There are a lot of overseas members consuming otaku content via DLsite, so without Visa and MasterCard, it’ll be hard to cut open a new foreign market. I hope there’s a proposal for a replacement.
Overseas users are probably gonna die from this change.
Losing credit card support pretty much means losing access to overseas sales. DLsite is putting more effort into translation than FANZA, so this is a big loss. In that sense, it’ll cause a chain reaction where creators lose out too, so in that case, there’s a high chance DLsite will fold to the demands…
Gaijin will have a harder time buying without credit cards. There are gaijin who like BlackSouls too, so there is definitely an audience there.
Regarding DLsite credit cards, I have two other cards so it doesn’t affect me, but thinking about it, losing international brands means that overseas users can’t purchase. Even if Japan is the core audience, seeing these numbers, sales will definitely take a hit.
DLsite was an oasis for overseas users, so if the temporary suspension becomes permanent, then it’ll be really bad.
“(…) there’s a high chance DLsite will fold to the demands…”
I’d rather be inconvenienced in how I can buy stuff from DLSite than seeing them bending the knee and censoring their content.
Amen. If they bend the knee, then they’d stop selling the stuff I wanted anyway. Personally, I have no problem recharging my account with points.
Totally agree. Buying DL Points is a good solution for now, at least until we have better options that won’t require DLsite to sell out (which would really hurt the Circles if they couldn’t sell there things on DLsite, not to mention all DLsite customers).
Haven’t those japanese users realize what the USA credit card companies have been pushing DLsite to do?
As they say. The best path is often not the easiest one.
Every recharge dlsite account (from bitcash/seagm) and making a purchase can help to make the chance lower.
Those Japanese users are so considerate. I consider all men of culture to be my brothers.
“anatomy enjoyers” – kek. When there’s a will, there’s a way. People will find alternatives and Visa and Mastercard can suck a lemon.
The ideal solution would involve no visa, mastercard or amex.
the only thing this will accomplish is the increase of piracy
I actually pirate content what is exclusive in platforms what I don’t like (for example i buying pqube visual novels on my switch, but pirating steam exclusive ones)
But for dlsite? I buy. Nowadays i buy more. Don’t pirate everything, because this is what they want.
It’s not their fault. It’s the west pressuring them.
Btw, while piracy might give you a free ride, it means less content gets produced, if the creators can’t get paid. As Gandhi would have said, “Purchase the change you want to see in the world.”