Nintendo requires default censorship for Dispatch on Switch releases

Dispatch launched on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on January 28, but the Nintendo versions censor some explicit content by default with no option to disable, developer AdHoc told Eurogamer.

The original release offered a settings option to censor explicit content, but the Switch builds apply censorship by default; that appears to remove brief scenes showing supervillain Toxic’s full appendage.

AdHoc said in a statement to Eurogamer prior to release: "Different platforms have different content criteria, and submissions are evaluated individually. We worked with Nintendo to ensure the content within the title met the criteria to release on their platforms, but the core narrative and gameplay experience remains identical to the original release."

Dispatch is a four-episode interactive workplace comedy by ex-Telltale developers about reformed villains in a superhero call center, and it includes adult moments such as Toxic’s explicit scene, romantic scenes and explicit hand gestures. Kotaku noted a brief areola gag is likely absent from the Switch version, and NintendoLife reported a late-game sex scene has been nerfed; the game’s profanity remains in place.

Kotaku said it is unclear what exactly Nintendo’s rules are for this kind of content, pointing out the Switch eShop otherwise carries suggestive material and calling the Dispatch changes puzzling.

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