Nintendo has made an announcement regarding the curious case of Dispatch and its unexpected censorship on, you guessed it, Nintendo Switch platforms. Pull up a chair; it’s about to get interesting.
A Brief Introduction to Dispatch
This week saw the launch of Dispatch, the episodic narrative adventure game from AdHoc Studio—a group of developers who presumably left behind Telltale Games, Ubisoft, and Night School Studio with fond memories and a sizable list of grievances. With the game dropping onto Nintendo Switch and the brand-spanking-new Switch 2, excitement was in the air. Unfortunately, some excitement turned into surprise (and not the good kind).
Hello, Censorship!
Upon its grand debut, fans quickly discovered that the Nintendo Switch edition of Dispatch decided to play a little game of peek-a-boo with certain scenes of nudity. Yes, breasts and penises were visible in the non-censored versions, but they’re apparently too scandalous for Nintendo’s family-friendly atmosphere, which might explain why some folks are now seeing only black bars where once there were, shall we say, anatomical details.
Interestingly, the game includes a visual censorship option that would typically allow players to cover up these cheeky bits—along with other “inappropriate” gestures like flipping the bird. But here’s the kicker: on the Switch and Switch 2, this option is not just enabled by default; it’s like that unwanted guest who won’t leave, and there’s no “exit” button available. Oops!
Nintendo’s Response: The Mystery Deepens
In direct response to the clamoring fans, Nintendo shared a statement reminiscent of a lawyer’s carefully worded cautionary tale. It reassured everyone that changes to game content aren’t made by them. Could this mean that a magical content fairy is responsible? Who knows!
“Nintendo requires all games on its platforms to receive ratings from independent organizations and to meet our established content and platform guidelines,” they said, perfectly balancing transparency and vagueness.
The rest of the statement resembled a classic “it’s not you, it’s me” breakup line, going on to explain that while they do notify development partners when their titles don’t meet guidelines, they refrain from delving into the good stuff—the why and how of the decisions made. So much for clarity!
Regional Ratings and the Tale of the eShop
One theory floating around like a rogue balloon at a party is the peculiar nature of the Nintendo eShop. It seems games sold across different regions often find themselves in a linguistic blender, automatically adjusting based on console settings. But this means that each version must pass certification from various regional ratings boards, and let’s face it—what’s appropriate in one place might raise eyebrows in another.
To avoid such a messy situation, someone could simply release two versions of the same game on the eShop and only allow certain regions access. Easy peasy, right? Well, CDProjekt took this path with the Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077, carefully sidestepping the nudity and graphic violence that the ratings boards in certain countries might not appreciate. In the West, players found one version, while the Japanese eShop hosted a whole separate CERO Z-rated edition devoid of flesh and decapitations. Balance, dear friends, is key!
Conclusion: The Intriguing World of Game Censorship
In conclusion—or should it be “censorship-clusion”?—the saga of Dispatch and its Nintendo Switch censorship continues to unfold. As more players step into the story and Nintendo’s statements grow increasingly perplexing, one thing is certain: the conversation around game content and its appropriateness will remain as vibrant and unpredictable as the colorful characters in the game. Buckle up, folks; it’s bound to be a wild ride!
