Dispatch Is Censored on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 — Here’s Why It Happened
The critically acclaimed narrative adventure game Dispatch has launched on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, but players quickly noticed a significant difference compared with the PC and PlayStation 5 versions: certain adult content is censored on Nintendo’s platforms, and there’s no option to turn it off.
What’s Being Censored?
Unlike the PC and PS5 editions — where a Visual Censorship toggle allows players to switch black bars over nudity and profane gestures on or off — the Switch and Switch 2 versions have that setting permanently enabled. That means scenes involving nudity or suggestive moments are always covered with a black bar, and explicit gestures like the middle finger may also be obscured.
In some cases, even audio in more adult-oriented scenes appears altered or muted compared with other platforms. This doesn’t remove the scenes from the story, but it does change how they are visually and audibly presented.
Why Is Dispatch Censored on Nintendo Platforms?
According to developer AdHoc Studio, the change was made to meet “content criteria” required by Nintendo for release on its eShop platforms. The studio said it worked with Nintendo to ensure the game would be accepted on Switch and Switch 2, and that the core narrative and gameplay remain unchanged despite the censorship.
Nintendo’s criteria vary by platform and region, and some believe this may be tied to Japan’s CERO content rating standards, which impose stricter limits on nudity than classifications like the ESRB’s Mature or PEGI 18 — especially when a single global eShop version is used instead of separate regional editions.
Fan Reaction and Controversy
The censorship has sparked heated discussion online:
-
Many players are frustrated that a mature-rated title can’t show the same content on Switch that it does on other platforms, with some calling it unnecessary or inconsistent given other adult-oriented games on the eShop.
-
Posts on Reddit show players expressing disappointment, requesting refunds, and questioning why there’s no user control over the visual censorship setting on Nintendo versions.
-
Some users speculate that CERO restrictions may be the root cause rather than Nintendo’s general policies, citing differences between rating boards’ attitudes toward nudity and mature content.
Developer’s Position
AdHoc emphasizes that while the visual censorship is mandatory on Nintendo platforms, the main game — including its eight-episode story, characters, and ongoing narrative choices — remains intact and unchanged from other versions. The company suggests the censorship was a necessary compromise to make the game available at all on Switch consoles.