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Nintendo Responds to Dispatch Switch Censorship, Cites Ratings Rules

Nintendo says it enforces ratings guidelines without altering partner games.

Overview

  • Switch and Switch 2 editions of Dispatch launched with mandatory visual and some audio censorship, and the player toggle available on PC and PS5 is absent.
  • AdHoc Studio says it worked with Nintendo to meet platform criteria and that the core narrative and gameplay are unchanged on Nintendo hardware.
  • Nintendo issued a statement saying all titles must meet independent ratings and platform guidelines and that the company does not make changes to partner content.
  • Players have criticized the lack of prior disclosure, shared refund successes, and noted that the eShop listing now informs buyers about the censorship.
  • Reporting points to regional ratings requirements, including Japan’s CERO, and the costs of multiple regional builds as a possible explanation, with comparisons to uncensored Western builds of games like Cyberpunk 2077 that used separate versions for Japan.