Here is what was censored

[Shylaar]

People keep making threads without putting this information in the OP, leaving it buried in arguments and making it difficult to find, while others downplay how much was censored. So here:

Originally posted by Shylaar:

Here's are comparisons that I was able to find after a few minutes of searching:
Zeta: https://i.imgur.com/E4vFVsH.jpeg
Djeeta: https://i.imgur.com/stergJg.jpeg
(Edit: Djeeta's in-game art clearly does not have the shorts in it: https://i.imgur.com/ANGKAEx.jpeg
Source: https://steamcommunity.com/app/881020/discussions/0/4208119288693710911/?ctp=52#c4208119548509630968 )
Ferry: https://i.imgur.com/1ariHjk.jpeg
These are the same designs except the originals are less covered up and the Relink versions are more covered up. Granblue Versus and Rising had the same censored costumes, except those games also had the original, uncensored costumes included, for free, so the players could use them if they so wished. As far as I know, Relink does not provide the uncensored outfits at all. So yes, this is just plain censorship this time.
Relink has the same age ratings as the Versus games by the way, so no one gets to blame CERO or PEGI or anyone else for this one.

Edit: And Narmaya as well, as pointed out: https://i.imgur.com/FZFa4ml.jpeg
Edit 2: Cagliostro has also had shorts added, this is the best still frame I could get: https://i.imgur.com/IVE0Wb2.jpeg

This isn't necessarily everything that was censored, as the edits should make clear, these are just things that we definitely know are censored so far. On the other hand, Lyria and some town NPCs are not censored and the player can look up their skirts to see underwear at any time.

Edit: An interview about preserving the original designs for Versus:

Originally posted by moulala2:

https://grandcypher.com/2020/02/12/famitsu-com-interview-with-arc-system-works-feb-20-2020-issue/

Sawada: In GBF, Metera’s costume shows a lot of skin, so Cygames’ idea was to adjust it for expansion into foreign markets and for esports considerations. So, we gave her some hotpants in her default outfit, and adjusted her outfit to lower the amount of skin shown. However, if you clear RPG Mode, you can pick her original outfit – this works for Zeta, too, you can get her original GBF costume in GBVS.

Anbe: A lot of the development staff said “We want to keep it!” and we complied.

Sawada: The lead modeling staff said that “Adding more cloth to Metera’s outfit makes her not Metera anymore. Fans of the original won’t be happy.” and wouldn’t budge (rueful laugh). But when we were discussing esports, we said “We might not want to add too many more characters who show that much skin”, so we added the original outfit as a bonus.

Pachi: FKHR (director, GBVS and GBF) wanted to keep Zeta and Metera’s original outfits, didn’t he?

Sawada: He did. When he saw the design sketches for Metera, he wrote some really sad comments. He wrote in red:

“It is with much regret that…”

(All 3 laugh)

Famitsu: So it was FKHR and the lead modeler who led the charge to make the staff’s wishes come true.

They didn't think it looked better, the execs made them do it against their will for foreign markets and unfortunately they weren't allowed to put the uncensored version in Relink for whatever reason.

[Johnnie Walker]

weird ass censorship

[Calaban]

Oh no! Anyway ...

[Kyota]

Unfortunate, though expected.

[Hakurei Illusion]

Spats are cuter anyway and I will die on this hill

[pogliacci]

Damn, if my friends and wife weren't all getting this game, I think I'd pass. Oh well.

[Daemeous]

Honestly...the game apparently has no anti-cheat so I imagine modders can quite quickly fix these via minor mesh and texture edits once the files are cracked. Then it's up to you diehard lot to push those mods as far as you can so that even the devs can't help but notice the support for the uncensored versions.

[Werdna]

Originally posted by Daemeous:

Honestly...the game apparently has no anti-cheat so I imagine modders can quite quickly fix these via minor mesh and texture edits once the files are cracked. Then it's up to you diehard lot to push those mods as far as you can so that even the devs can't help but notice the support for the uncensored versions.

OK. Paying 60$ to the modder and getting the game for free elsewhere. Deal?

[Lionheart]

Jokes on them, I have a short shorts fetish, so the new outfits are way hotter.

[Anime-Profile-Picture]

I am almost always on the side of anti-censorship, but in these three specific comparisons I actually can't tell much of a difference and am actually willing to give the benefit of the doubt. I mainly draw the line at skorts and ♥♥♥♥ like that,

[Kyota]

Originally posted by Austin:

Damn, if my friends and wife weren't all getting this game, I think I'd pass. Oh well.

Please understand, I don't want to you refrain from playing the game. I actually encourage you to try it out for yourself. It's your right to after all.

However, people need to be made aware of the fact that this game is censored - quite egregiously.

To say otherwise, is peak delusion.

Again, I'm not saying the game is bad...I'm saying it's censored...heavily.

And folks should know this.

[Gannibal Kujoe]

That isn't that bad, and I really didn't care about it. The text worried me more.

[Aruba]

Originally posted by Daemeous:

Honestly...the game apparently has no anti-cheat so I imagine modders can quite quickly fix these via minor mesh and texture edits once the files are cracked. Then it's up to you diehard lot to push those mods as far as you can so that even the devs can't help but notice the support for the uncensored versions.

You`re right, without anti-cheat mods could be pushed more easily without breaking the co-op

[Kyota]

Originally posted by Hakurei Illusion:

Spats are cuter anyway and I will die on this hill

I like what the artists came up with in the original designs...not what some bureaucrat thought was "obscene" and therefore unpermissible to the target audience.

[pogliacci]

Originally posted by Kyota:

Originally posted by Austin:

Damn, if my friends and wife weren't all getting this game, I think I'd pass. Oh well.

Please understand, I don't want to you refrain from playing the game. I actually encourage you to try it out for yourself. It's your right to after all.

However, people need to be made aware of the fact that this game is censored - quite egregiously.

To say otherwise, is peak delusion.

Again, I'm not saying the game is bad...I'm saying it's censored...heavily.

And folks should know this.

Oh I'm not disagreeing with you. I think it's ♥♥♥♥ and would rather skip on a censored game, but my entire social circle has never really banded around one game like with this one, so what can I do?

[Chauden]

So I finally found out what was censored! Basically panty shots? I mean, I get it, but honestly, it sounds like an improvement to me. Maybe it's because I'm getting old, but I never saw much point in female characters wearing short skirts or flowing dresses when they're going into the middle of a battle.

I even know the "muh fantasy" argument that the game has dragons so anything is possible. Sounds like an argument from someone who really does think it's important to see anime panties, actually. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's good that the devs' artistic vision is being changed to supposedly conform to a possible western standard - I'd prefer the original version, even if I personally like the current result better.

But it's not a dealbreaker for me in any way. But at least, finally, I found out what this supposed censorship everyone was talking about is. I gave the OP an "extremely helpful" award because he deserves it.