Nintendo Clarifies: “We Don’t Alter Partner Content” Following Censorship of Superhero Game Dispatch on Switch
Nintendo has addressed the recent controversy surrounding the censorship of Dispatch on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
The superhero adventure game made its debut on these platforms earlier this week, generating excitement among fans eager to experience it on handheld devices. However, it was revealed that, unlike the PS5 and PC versions that allow players to toggle nudity and other adult content, the game would be fully censored on Nintendo’s systems.
In a statement, Nintendo clarified that the decision to censor was not made by them, stating, “Nintendo requires all games on its platforms to receive ratings from independent organizations and to meet our established content and platform guidelines. While we inform partners when their titles don’t meet our guidelines, Nintendo does not make changes to partner content. We also do not discuss specific content or the criteria used in making these determinations.”
This has led to questions about why Dispatch faced such restrictions while Cyberpunk 2077, which includes similar content, was promoted as a major title for the Switch 2.
As noted, the Japanese ratings board CERO has stringent rules regarding nudity in games. The Nintendo eShop automatically defaults to the region based on your system settings, meaning that purchasing from the Japanese eShop while using a UK account will result in the UK version being played.
In contrast, CD Projekt Red released two versions of Cyberpunk 2077, with the Japanese edition omitting nudity and decapitations. The difference in handling may stem from the fact that CD Projekt Red is a large publisher, while AdHoc, the studio behind Dispatch, is independent. Managing two separate editions could have been seen as too costly, especially considering the need for distinct submissions for the game and its updates.
Dispatch is designed to resemble “a premium animated television show” to appeal to players and avoid rejection.
