According to Eurogamer.net, Nintendo has released a statement addressing the censorship of AdHoc Studio’s game *Dispatch* on the Switch platform. The issue arose earlier this week when the game launched with mandatory censorship, using black boxes to cover nudity and toning down audio, whereas other platforms offer a player toggle. Nintendo’s statement, shared with GoNintendo, says they require games to meet content guidelines and ratings but that they “do not make changes to partner content” and won’t discuss specific criteria. This follows *Dispatch* selling over 1 million copies in just 10 days after its initial release last year, a success that has the studio considering a second season. The immediate outcome is continued confusion, as players note games like *Cyberpunk 2077* feature nudity on Switch without similar censorship.
Nintendo’s Boilerplate Problem
Here’s the thing about Nintendo’s statement: it’s a masterclass in saying nothing. They’ve basically given us the corporate equivalent of a shrug. “We have rules, we tell you if you break them, but we won’t tell you what they are or why.” This puts every developer in a tough spot. How can you confidently design or port a game if the goalposts are invisible? It creates a chilling effect, where studios might self-censor more than necessary just to avoid last-minute rejection. And that doesn’t benefit anyone—not the creators, and certainly not the players who want a consistent experience.
The Dispatch Double Standard
But the real kicker is the apparent inconsistency. Players are right to point out *Cyberpunk 2077*. You can customize your V’s genitalia on the Switch version, no black bars required. So what gives? The speculation, as Eurogamer notes, is that it might come down to regional ratings and the cost of creating separate builds. *Cyberpunk* had a specific, separate Japanese release that removed nudity. Maybe AdHoc decided a globally censored single version was more feasible than managing multiple SKUs. That’s a practical, business-driven decision. The problem is Nintendo’s opaque guidelines make this whole process feel arbitrary. Is it about the *type* of nudity? The context? We just don’t know, and Nintendo won’t say.
Impact on Developers and Players
For a developer like AdHoc, this is a frustrating hurdle. You’ve got a hit game—1 million copies in 10 days is no joke—and part of its identity and player discussion is its mature content. Having to alter that for a major platform like Switch is a creative compromise. For players, it’s about choice and parity. If you buy a game on Switch, you expect the same product, especially when other platforms explicitly offer a toggle. Getting a permanently altered version feels like a lesser experience. It fragments the community and fuels distrust in the platform holder’s curation process. Basically, everyone loses a little bit of faith.
Where Does This Leave Us?
So where does this leave the industry? Stuck in the same old loop, honestly. Nintendo maintains its family-friendly image through a shadowy, case-by-case approval system. Developers are left to read tea leaves and guess. And players are stuck debating on forums instead of getting clear answers. Until Nintendo decides to be more transparent—to publish clearer, more consistent guidelines—these debacles will keep happening. In the meantime, studios with mature content might think twice about the Switch, or factor in the cost of creating multiple versions from the start. It’s a messy way to do business, but for now, it’s the only game in town.
