<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
(	O
)	O
is	O
a	O
side-scrolling	O
shoot	O
'	O
em	O
up	O
video	O
game	O
created	O
by	O
Chinese	O
developers	O
Shanghai	B-Device
Manjuu	O
and	O
Xiamen	O
Yongshi	O
,	O
released	O
in	O
2017	O
for	O
the	O
iOS	B-Application
and	O
Android	B-Application
operating	I-Application
systems	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
an	O
alternate	O
timeline	O
of	O
World	O
War	O
II	O
,	O
players	O
engage	O
in	O
side-scrolling	O
shooter	O
gameplay	O
,	O
using	O
female	O
moe	O
anthropomorphic	O
characters	O
based	O
on	O
warships	B-Application
from	O
the	O
war	O
's	O
major	O
participants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
First	O
launched	O
in	O
China	O
in	O
May	O
and	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
September	O
2017	O
,	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
quickly	O
became	O
popular	O
,	O
especially	O
in	O
Japan	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
count	O
reached	O
five	O
million	O
within	O
four	O
months	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
have	O
voted	O
the	O
game	O
among	O
the	O
top	O
five	O
on	O
Google	B-Application
Play	I-Application
's	O
Best	O
Game	O
of	O
2017	O
list	O
for	O
the	O
region	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
Crosswave	O
,	O
a	O
3D	O
adaptation	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
was	O
published	O
by	O
Compile	O
Heart	O
in	O
August	O
2019	O
with	O
mixed	O
reception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Crosswave	O
English	O
localization	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
February	O
2020	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
PC	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
port	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
September	O
2020	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
February	O
2021	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
in	O
February	O
2021	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
anime	O
television	O
series	O
adaptation	O
of	O
the	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
:	O
Slow	O
Ahead	O
!	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
original	O
video	O
animation	O
adaptation	O
of	O
the	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
:	O
Queen	O
's	O
Orders	O
manga	O
is	O
set	O
to	O
release	O
in	O
July	O
2023	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
is	O
a	O
side-scrolling	O
shoot	O
'	O
em	O
up	O
,	O
simulation	O
and	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
collect	O
characters	O
that	O
are	O
moe	O
anthropomorphic	O
interpretations	O
of	O
World	O
War	O
II	O
warships	B-Application
(	O
"	O
shipgirls	O
"	O
)	O
,	O
mainly	O
from	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
Navy	O
,	O
Royal	O
Navy	O
,	O
Imperial	O
Japanese	O
Navy	O
and	O
Kriegsmarine	O
,	O
with	O
other	O
ships	O
from	O
the	O
French	O
Navy	O
(	O
both	O
Vichy	O
and	O
Free	O
France	O
flavors	O
)	O
,	O
Republic	O
of	O
China	O
Navy	O
,	O
People	O
's	O
Liberation	O
Army	O
Navy	O
,	O
Regia	O
Marina	O
,	O
Soviet	O
Navy	O
,	O
Imperial	O
Russian	O
Navy	O
,	O
and	O
Imperial	O
German	O
Navy	O
being	O
added	O
later	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
organize	O
them	O
into	O
fleets	O
of	O
six	O
and	O
confront	O
AI-controlled	O
enemies	O
or	O
other	O
players	O
 '	O
fleets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Personifications	O
of	O
American	O
destroyer	B-Application
USS	O
Laffey	O
(	O
DD-459	O
)	O
,	O
British	O
destroyer	B-Application
HMS	O
Javelin	O
and	O
German	O
destroyer	B-Application
Z23	O
(	O
Chinese	O
,	O
English	O
release	O
)	O
or	O
Japanese	O
destroyer	B-Application
Ayanami	O
(	O
Japanese	O
,	O
Korean	O
release	O
)	O
are	O
available	O
for	O
players	O
to	O
select	O
as	O
a	O
starter	O
ship	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Destroyers	B-Application
,	O
light	O
cruisers	O
,	O
and	O
heavy	O
cruisers	O
can	O
be	O
allotted	O
to	O
the	O
front	O
row	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
back	O
row	O
is	O
reserved	O
for	O
battleships	B-Application
,	O
aircraft	O
cruiser	O
,	O
monitors	O
,	O
repair	O
ships	O
,	O
battlecruisers	B-Application
and	O
aircraft	O
carriers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
entering	O
a	O
map	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
fleet	O
is	O
placed	O
on	O
a	O
grid-like	O
map	O
similar	O
to	O
that	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
Battleship	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
battling	O
an	O
enemy	O
,	O
players	O
can	O
use	O
a	O
virtual	O
joystick	B-Device
to	O
control	O
the	O
front	O
row	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
automatically	O
fire	O
shells	O
at	O
targets	O
and	O
manually	O
launch	O
torpedoes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
have	O
an	O
auto	O
mode	O
option	O
to	O
give	O
up	O
this	O
control	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
AI	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
this	O
mode	O
,	O
battles	O
are	O
controlled	O
entirely	O
by	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
bullet-clearing	O
effect	O
of	O
airstrikes	O
is	O
disabled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
included	O
anti-submarine	O
campaign	O
maps	O
,	O
and	O
characters	O
based	O
on	O
German	O
U-boats	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
American	O
and	O
Japanese	O
submarines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
start	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
features	O
an	O
anthropomorphic	O
recreation	O
of	O
the	O
Battle	O
of	O
the	O
Denmark	O
Strait	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
personification	O
of	O
famed	O
British	O
battlecruiser	B-Application
HMS	O
Hood	O
is	O
sunk	O
by	O
characters	O
representing	O
the	O
German	O
forces	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
an	O
eponymous	O
military	O
alliance	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
"	O
,	O
formed	O
and	O
comprised	O
by	O
the	O
nations	O
of	O
Eagle	O
Union	O
(	O
United	O
States	O
)	O
,	O
Royal	O
Navy	O
(	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
)	O
,	O
Sakura	O
Empire	O
(	O
Empire	O
of	O
Japan	O
)	O
,	O
Iron	O
Blood	O
(	O
Nazi	O
Germany	O
)	O
,	O
Dragon	O
Empery	O
(	O
Republic	O
of	O
China	O
)	O
,	O
Northern	O
Parliament	O
(	O
Soviet	O
Union	O
)	O
,	O
Iris	O
Orthodoxy	O
(	O
France	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Sardegna	O
Empire	O
(	O
Kingdom	O
of	O
Italy	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
result	O
many	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
's	O
territories	O
came	O
under	O
occupation	O
of	O
the	O
Crimson	O
Axis	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
Iris	O
Orthodoxy	O
was	O
spilt	O
into	O
Iris	O
Libre	O
(	O
Free	O
France	O
)	O
and	O
Vichya	O
Dominion	O
(	O
Vichy	O
France	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lanes	I-Application
producer	O
,	O
Yuwan	O
,	O
a	O
well-known	O
uploader	O
to	O
the	O
Chinese	O
video	O
sharing	O
website	O
Bilibili	O
,	O
began	O
developing	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
five	O
of	O
his	O
college	O
friends	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
initial	O
notion	O
of	O
"	O
creating	O
a	O
doujin	O
game	O
,	O
if	O
a	O
commercial	O
one	O
is	O
not	O
possible	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Seeing	O
many	O
similar	O
games	O
created	O
in	O
Greater	O
China	O
after	O
Kantai	B-Application
Collections	I-Application
success	O
,	O
the	O
developers	O
aimed	O
to	O
create	O
"	O
something	O
different	O
from	O
previous	O
works	O
of	O
ship	O
moe	O
anthropomorphism	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
such	O
,	O
they	O
intentionally	O
avoided	O
using	O
a	O
turn-based	O
strategy	O
game	O
mechanic	O
like	O
that	O
used	O
by	O
Kantai	B-Application
Collection	I-Application
and	O
most	O
of	O
its	O
followers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
World	B-Application
of	I-Application
Warships	I-Application
,	O
a	O
World	O
War	O
II	O
naval	O
warfare	O
simulation	O
game	O
popular	O
in	O
China	O
,	O
influenced	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
gameplay	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developers	O
sought	O
to	O
further	O
differentiate	O
the	O
game	O
by	O
featuring	O
characters	O
based	O
on	O
preserved	O
museum	O
ships	O
from	O
earlier	O
times	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
pre-dreadnought	O
battleship	B-Application
Mikasa	O
of	O
World	O
War	O
I	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
served	O
as	O
a	O
flagship	O
during	O
the	O
Russo-Japanese	O
war	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Russian	O
protected	O
cruiser	O
Aurora	O
,	O
the	O
ship	O
famed	O
for	O
its	O
October	O
Revolution	O
involvement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
series	O
of	O
characters	O
based	O
on	O
proposed	O
or	O
unfinished	O
World	O
War	O
II	O
warships	B-Application
,	O
including	O
Neptune	B-Application
,	O
Saint-Louis	O
and	O
Ibuki	O
,	O
were	O
introduced	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
collaboration	O
with	O
Wargaming	O
,	O
publisher	O
of	O
World	B-Application
of	I-Application
Warships	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shanghai	B-Device
's	O
Manjuu	O
Ltd	O
.	O
provided	O
the	O
audiovisual	O
design	O
and	O
the	O
writing	O
for	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shanghai	B-Device
Yostar	O
published	O
the	O
Japanese	O
version	O
in	O
September	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Li	O
Hengda	O
,	O
president	O
of	O
Yostar	O
Inc.	O
,	O
revealed	O
that	O
although	O
he	O
saw	O
Azur	B-Application
Lanes	I-Application
potential	O
,	O
he	O
did	O
not	O
expect	O
the	O
level	O
of	O
popularity	O
the	O
game	O
experienced	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Through	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
,	O
Yostar	O
established	O
contact	O
with	O
distinguished	O
Japanese	O
enterprises	O
and	O
creators	O
and	O
was	O
met	O
with	O
welcoming	O
responses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tony	O
Taka	O
,	O
known	O
for	O
his	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
Shining	O
series	O
,	O
was	O
delighted	O
to	O
be	O
invited	O
to	O
provide	O
character	O
design	O
for	O
HMS	O
Centaur	O
(	O
R06	O
)	O
,	O
marking	O
his	O
first	O
work	O
in	O
a	O
mobile	B-Application
game	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jin	O
Haganeya	O
,	O
writer	O
for	O
Demonbane	B-Application
,	O
agreed	O
to	O
write	O
the	O
script	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
anime	O
adaptation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
special	O
program	O
featuring	O
voice	O
actress	O
Yui	O
Ishikawa	O
visiting	O
the	O
office	O
of	O
one	O
of	O
developers	O
,	O
Manjuu	O
Ltd.	O
,	O
in	O
Shanghai	B-Device
was	O
aired	O
on	O
the	O
Japanese	O
streaming	O
television	O
platform	O
AbemaTV	B-Application
in	O
May	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
misuse	O
during	O
the	O
program	O
of	O
the	O
trademarked	O
term	O
to	O
refer	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
personified	O
warship	B-Application
characters	O
led	O
to	O
Yostar	O
being	O
publicly	O
warned	O
by	O
DMM.com,	O
publisher	O
of	O
Kantai	B-Application
Collection	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yostar	O
issued	O
an	O
apology	O
,	O
and	O
called	O
on	O
players	O
of	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
to	O
provide	O
alternative	O
terms	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
personified	O
warship	B-Application
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
January	O
2018	O
collaboration	O
event	O
with	O
Compile	O
Heart	O
introduced	O
protagonists	O
of	O
Hyperdimension	B-Application
Neptunia	I-Application
to	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2018	O
,	O
Yostar	O
and	O
Wargaming	O
Japan	O
announced	O
a	O
collaboration	O
between	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
World	B-Application
of	I-Application
Warships	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
players	O
may	O
obtain	O
characters	O
based	O
on	O
ships	O
from	O
World	B-Application
of	I-Application
Warships	I-Application
through	O
a	O
new	O
interface	O
called	O
"	O
Development	O
Dock	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
World	B-Application
of	I-Application
Warships	I-Application
players	O
may	O
purchase	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
characters	O
as	O
voiced	O
captains	O
,	O
and	O
skins	O
for	O
ships	O
based	O
on	O
design	O
elements	O
of	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
namesake	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2019	O
,	O
the	O
WoWS	B-Application
collaboration	O
was	O
further	O
extended	O
by	O
season	O
2	O
,	O
introducing	O
new	O
characters	O
into	O
both	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Marshydog	O
mecha	O
from	O
the	O
show	O
was	O
added	O
to	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
as	O
a	O
furniture	O
item	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
collaboration	O
event	O
with	O
Aquaplus	O
in	O
November	O
2018	O
made	O
characters	O
from	O
the	O
visual	O
novel	O
Utawarerumono	B-Application
obtainable	O
in	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
April	O
2019	O
collaboration	O
with	O
Kizuna	O
AI	B-Application
introduced	O
the	O
virtual	O
YouTuber	O
as	O
4	O
different	O
in-game	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Between	O
November	O
2	O
and	O
December	O
7	O
,	O
2022	O
,	O
six	O
new	O
limited-time	O
characters	O
were	O
introduced	O
(	O
Kala	O
Ideas	O
,	O
Klaudia	O
Valentz	O
,	O
Patricia	O
Abelheim	O
,	O
Reisalin	O
Stout	O
,	O
Lila	O
Decyrus	O
,	O
and	O
Serri	O
Glaus	O
)	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
collaboration	O
with	O
two	O
video	O
games	O
from	O
the	O
Atelier	O
franchise	O
developed	O
by	O
Gust	O
Corporation	O
;	O
Atelier	B-Application
Ryza	I-Application
2	I-Application
:	I-Application
Lost	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
&	I-Application
the	I-Application
Secret	I-Application
Fairy	I-Application
and	O
Atelier	O
Ryza	O
3	O
:	O
Alchemist	O
of	O
the	O
End	O
&	O
the	O
Secret	O
Key	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yostar	O
has	O
held	O
illustration	O
contests	O
with	O
Japanese	O
art	O
community	O
Pixiv	B-Application
to	O
promote	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yostar	O
licensed	O
the	O
Japanese	O
company	O
GRSPER	O
to	O
create	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
wedding	O
ceremonies	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
characters	O
in	O
August	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2022	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
collaborated	O
with	O
Yamaha	O
and	O
its	O
employee-run	O
team	O
,	O
Iwata	O
Racing	O
Family	O
(	O
IRF	O
)	O
,	O
to	O
race	O
a	O
YZF-R1	O
sports	O
motorcycle	O
that	O
appears	O
in-game	O
as	O
Essex	O
's	O
motorcycle	O
at	O
the	O
Suzuka	B-Application
8	I-Application
Hours	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
was	O
adapted	O
into	O
several	O
manga	O
and	O
novels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
official	O
yonkoma	O
comic	O
,	O
titled	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
:	O
Slow	O
Ahead	O
!,	O
is	O
being	O
published	O
in	O
Ichijinsha	O
's	O
magazine	O
Manga	O
4-koma	O
Palette	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
Comic	O
Anthology	O
,	O
a	O
comic	O
anthology	O
series	O
currently	O
up	O
to	O
four	O
volumes	O
,	O
is	O
being	O
published	O
by	O
Ichijinsha	O
and	O
sold	O
on	O
Amazon	B-Application
Japan	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
Queen	O
's	O
Orders	O
,	O
a	O
manga	O
centering	O
around	O
the	O
characters	O
based	O
on	O
HMS	O
Queen	O
Elizabeth	O
and	O
HMS	O
Warspite	O
,	O
is	O
being	O
published	O
by	O
Ichijinsha	O
in	O
Comic	O
Rex	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
Comic	O
à	O
la	O
Carte	O
,	O
another	O
comic	O
anthology	O
,	O
was	O
published	O
in	O
October	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
Crosswave	O
,	O
a	O
3D	O
shooter	O
game	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
was	O
announced	O
in	O
September	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Crosswave	O
features	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
characters	O
battling	O
against	O
realistic	O
warships	B-Application
and	O
warplanes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
console	O
adaptation	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Felistella	O
using	O
Unreal	B-Operating_System
Engine	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
was	O
published	O
by	O
Compile	O
Heart	O
on	O
August	O
29	O
,	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
port	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
September	O
17	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
and	O
on	O
February	O
16	O
,	O
2021	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
in	O
Europe	O
on	O
February	O
19	O
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
anime	O
was	O
directed	O
by	O
Tensho	O
,	O
director	O
of	O
Grisaia	B-Application
and	O
Rewrite	B-Application
's	O
anime	O
adaptations	O
,	O
with	O
writer	O
Jin	O
Haganeya	O
,	O
and	O
Yasunori	O
Nishiki	O
composing	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
choice	O
of	O
Haganeya	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
writer	O
was	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
Demonbane	B-Application
franchise	O
being	O
one	O
of	O
Hengda	O
's	O
personal	O
favorites	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
anime	O
adaptation	O
of	O
the	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
:	O
Slow	O
Ahead	O
!	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
anime	O
adaptation	O
of	O
the	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
:	O
Queen	O
's	O
Orders	O
manga	O
was	O
announced	O
in	O
September	O
2021	O
,	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
fourth	O
anniversary	O
(	O
and	O
third	O
anniversary	O
in	O
English	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
produces	O
an	O
educational	O
video	O
series	O
hosted	O
on	O
YouTube	O
called	O
Learning	O
Ships	O
of	O
the	O
World	O
with	O
Mikasa	O
Dai-Senpai	O
(	O
:	O
ja:三笠大先輩と学ぶ世界の艦船	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
for	O
one	O
of	O
Belfast	O
's	O
episodes	O
,	O
footage	O
was	O
included	O
of	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
management	O
visiting	O
Belfast	O
in	O
the	O
Pool	O
of	O
London	O
in	O
cooperation	O
with	O
Imperial	O
War	O
Museums	O
,	O
which	O
currently	O
operates	O
Belfast	O
as	O
a	O
branch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
was	O
very	O
popular	O
in	O
its	O
home	O
country	O
,	O
contributing	O
to	O
most	O
of	O
Bilibili	O
's	O
2018	O
Q1	O
revenue	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
Chinese	O
release	O
of	O
Fate/Grand	B-Application
Order	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
enjoyed	O
an	O
overwhelming	O
surge	O
in	O
popularity	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
despite	O
initial	O
accusations	O
by	O
fans	O
of	O
Kantai	B-Application
Collection	I-Application
that	O
it	O
was	O
a	O
clone	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
From	O
May	O
2017	O
to	O
August	O
2018	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
has	O
earned	O
US$170	O
million	O
globally	O
on	O
the	O
iOS	B-Application
AppStore	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
scored	O
within	O
Japan	O
's	O
top	O
five	O
best	O
games	O
of	O
2017	O
in	O
a	O
Google	B-Application
Play	I-Application
user	O
vote	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
first	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
app	O
section	O
of	O
the	O
Dengeki	O
Online	O
Awards	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Azur	B-Application
Lanes	I-Application
popularity	O
was	O
attributed	O
to	O
its	O
gameplay	O
and	O
game	O
system	O
design	O
which	O
were	O
widely	O
praised	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
have	O
also	O
compared	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
Kantai	B-Application
Collection	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hong	O
Kong	O
media	O
outlet	O
HK01	O
found	O
Kantai	B-Application
Collections	I-Application
complete	O
lack	O
of	O
post-release	O
improvements	O
and	O
overdependence	O
on	O
luck	O
responsible	O
for	O
upsetting	O
its	O
own	O
players	O
,	O
who	O
switched	O
contributing	O
to	O
Azur	B-Application
Lanes	I-Application
popularity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mafia	O
Kajita	O
noted	O
the	O
two	O
games	O
had	O
different	O
focuses	O
:	O
Kantai	B-Application
Collection	I-Application
is	O
centred	O
on	O
resource	O
management	O
while	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
is	O
a	O
simulation	O
game	O
about	O
dodging	O
danmaku	O
bullets	O
while	O
shooting	O
the	O
enemy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Shigetaka	O
Kurita	O
,	O
director	O
of	O
Kadokawa	O
Dwango	O
corporation	O
,	O
criticized	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
for	O
lacking	O
the	O
sense	O
of	O
"	O
tragedy	O
and	O
heroism	O
"	O
in	O
Kantai	B-Application
Collection	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
found	O
the	O
greatest	O
appeal	O
of	O
Kantai	B-Application
Collection	I-Application
to	O
be	O
the	O
"	O
sorrow	O
of	O
the	O
Imperial	O
Japanese	O
Navy	O
"	O
saying	O
that	O
one	O
might	O
cry	O
while	O
playing	O
Kantai	B-Application
Collection	I-Application
but	O
not	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2021	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
voice	O
actresses	O
,	O
Ai	B-Application
Kayano	O
,	O
who	O
made	O
voice	O
lines	O
for	O
Kaga	O
,	O
Atago	O
,	O
Renown	O
,	O
and	O
Graf	O
Zeppelin	O
,	O
was	O
embroiled	O
in	O
controversy	O
on	O
Chinese	O
social	O
media	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
of	O
her	O
post	O
regarding	O
her	O
February	O
11	O
trip	O
to	O
Yasukuni	O
Shrine	O
–	O
a	O
Shinto	O
shrine	O
known	O
for	O
the	O
enshrinement	O
of	O
Japanese	O
men	O
,	O
women	O
,	O
children	O
,	O
and	O
soldiers	O
died	O
in	O
numerous	O
wars	O
involving	O
Japan	O
spanning	O
between	O
the	O
Meiji	O
and	O
Showa	O
eras	O
,	O
including	O
1,068	O
souls	O
of	O
convicted	O
war	O
criminals	O
that	O
were	O
sentenced	O
to	O
death	O
by	O
the	O
International	O
Military	O
Tribunal	O
;	O
of	O
which	O
14	O
of	O
them	O
,	O
including	O
former	O
Japanese	O
Prime	O
Minister	O
Hideki	O
Tojo	O
,	O
are	O
labelled	O
as	O
A-Class	O
criminals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
;	O
amid	O
backlash	O
from	O
some	O
Chinese	O
fans	O
,	O
her	O
voice	O
was	O
removed	O
from	O
these	O
characters	O
,	O
including	O
other	O
variants	O
,	O
from	O
the	O
Chinese	O
servers	O
of	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
and	O
are	O
subsequently	O
replaced	O
in	O
September	O
2022	O
by	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
voice	O
actresses	O
for	O
their	O
respective	O
characters	O
(	O
Yuka	O
Iguchi	O
,	O
Saeko	O
Ouki	O
,	O
Ayako	O
Kawatsumi	O
,	O
and	O
Yumi	O
Uchiyama	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similar	O
action	O
was	O
also	O
taken	O
in	O
other	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
removing	O
Kayano	O
's	O
Platinum	O
voice	O
dialogues	O
from	O
Arknights	B-Application
,	O
and	O
while	O
Kayano	O
's	O
voice	O
dialogues	O
remained	O
available	O
outside	O
of	O
Arknights	B-Application
 '	O
Chinese	O
servers	O
after	O
the	O
incident	O
,	O
her	O
voice	O
lines	O
have	O
since	O
been	O
replaced	O
by	O
Mizuki	O
Kitajima	O
for	O
all	O
servers	O
by	O
a	O
flash	O
update	O
on	O
October	O
24	O
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2021	O
,	O
18	O
characters	O
were	O
temporarily	O
made	O
unobtainable	O
in	O
the	O
Chinese	O
version	O
of	O
Azur	B-Application
Lane	I-Application
as	O
a	O
result	O
of	O
a	O
Chinese	O
government	O
crackdown	O
on	O
"	O
soft	O
pornography	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Coinciding	O
with	O
the	O
removal	O
of	O
revealing	O
artwork	O
in	O
Chinese	O
mobile	B-Application
game	I-Application
Girls	B-Application
 '	I-Application
Frontline	I-Application
,	O
both	O
games	O
were	O
specifically	O
named	O
as	O
having	O
inappropriate	O
content	O
in	O
a	O
memo	O
for	O
a	O
state-backed	O
training	O
course	O
for	O
Chinese	O
game	O
developers	O
which	O
included	O
prohibitions	O
on	O
revealing	O
fan	O
service	O
and	O
panty	O
shots	O
.	O
</s>
