- The Dispatch version for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 comes with permanent censorship of nudity, gestures, and sexual scenes.
- On PS5 and PC, the player can enable or disable censorship, but on Nintendo consoles that option disappears.
- Nintendo had already modified the promotional art for Dispatch in the American eShop, while the European one kept it intact.
- The decision is generating criticism due to its apparent inconsistency compared to other titles with explicit content available on the eShop.
The landing of Dispatch on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 It promised to be a simple formality for one of the most talked-about narrative games of recent times, but its release has ended up surrounded by unexpected controversy. The title, known for its mature approach and its blend of comedy, drama, and superheroes, arrives on Nintendo consoles with a a shorter version compared to the original, which has The debate on censorship in video games has been reopened. and the role of platforms in filtering content.
What began as a highly anticipated launch has transformed into a case study on The limits of self-censorship and the criteria of digital storesWhile on other platforms Dispatch maintains options for each player to decide what to watch and what not to watch, within the Nintendo ecosystem the company has opted to impose its own filter. The result has caused outrage among some members of the community, who see it as unequal application of the rules when compared to other titles available on the eShop.
A narrative success with broken superheroes and plenty of dark humor
Dispatch presents itself as a episodic narrative adventure with a strong script componentA direct descendant of Telltale Games' style. After the closure of the renowned studio, several of its veterans founded AdHoc Studio, the team responsible for bringing this office comedy set in a superhero world to life. The game proposes a kind of mix between the more adult visions of comics, such as Watchmen or the darker Batman, and the irreverence of modern series like The Boys o Invinciblebut with a more lighthearted tone and full of witty dialogue.
The player assumes the role of Robert Robertson, aka Mecha ManA superhero whose mechanical suit is shattered after a battle against his greatest nemesis. Far from retiring, the protagonist ends up working as a sort of "office man" for an agency that coordinates superheroes with more personal problems than capes. From that office, he has to making decisions that affect missions, relationships between characters, and the story's outcome itselfThis makes the experience more like an interactive series where each chapter leads into the next.
Because of its approach, Dispatch is unapologetically betting on Adult themes, romantic and sexual relationships, explicit language and nudityIt's not your typical action game, but rather a guided experience where the emphasis is on conversations, moral choices, and character development. This predominantly narrative nature means that, even on less powerful consoles, can be enjoyed without major technical compromisesThis has been highlighted in the versions for Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2.
Censorship options on PS5 and PC versus a cut-down version on Switch
Since its arrival on PC and PlayStation, Dispatch has been marketed as an adult game that, nevertheless, offers reasonable control over its explicit contentOn these platforms, there is a setting in the menu that allows the user to enable or disable censorship. When enabled, the game introduces black rectangles over nudes eliminate certain obscene gestures and moderates some of the audio in sexual scenes, similar to what is seen in other productions that offer content filters.
In those versions, the key is that the decision It falls on the playerThose who want the experience as it was intended can enjoy it without cuts, and those who prefer something more moderate can enable censorship with a simple setting. However, on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, the approach changes fundamentally. Pre-release reviews and early copies have confirmed that The option to disable censorship disappears completely on Nintendo consoles, and the game always runs with all filters enabled.
This means that in the versions for hybrid vehicles There is no official way to access the experience without cuts.which reopens the debate on content moderationThe scenes that included nudity, both male and female, appear covered by large black blocks. moans, grunts, and other suggestive sounds The sexual scenes are muted, and some gestures—like flipping the bird—are simply removed from the animation. The community itself has pointed out that this censorship is problematic. much more intrusive and conspicuous that the settings that the player could freely manage on PC or PS5.
The official AdHoc storyline and Nintendo's role
In response to the flood of questions, AdHoc Studio has sent a very similar message to several European media outlets, including Eurogamer UK and other specialist publicationsIn it, the study explains that “Each platform has its own content criteria” and that projects are analyzed on a case-by-case basis. According to their statement, they worked with Nintendo to “adapt certain elements” Dispatch so that the game could be released on the company's consoles without compromising its core structure.
The developer insists that, despite these modifications, The core narrative, progression, and gameplay remain identical to the original version.In other words, the key decisions, dialogues, and plot twists remain untouched, and the player is supposedly still receiving the same story, albeit dressed up with more visual patches and silences than intended. The studio suggests that the changes have been limited to visual and audio censorship at specific times, without rewrites or scenes being deleted en masse.
However, the way this policy has been carried over to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 leaves little room for interpretation: Censorship is no longer a user preference, but a requirement imposed by the platform.It's a nuance that many players don't overlook, especially considering that Dispatch is clearly labeled as an 18+ product and is not sold, at least in theory, to children.
From promotional art to black blocks: a two-phase case of censorship
The so-called "Dispatch case" didn't begin on the day of the Nintendo console launch. Months earlier, a vulnerability had already been detected. company's first involvement in the game's promotional materialIn the American eShop, the image for the digital deluxe edition originally showed an illustration with a plunging neckline and visible pubic hair. That same image appeared in Europe without retouching, but in the US store it was modified to cover those parts of the body, in accordance with the region's content standards.
That difference between eShop versions was interpreted at the time as an isolated case of regional adjustment of official artHowever, in light of the Switch and Switch 2 update, many now see it as the first indication of a stricter approach to Dispatch within the Nintendo ecosystem. First, the promotion in the digital store was tweaked, and then... extending the scissors to the playable content itself, with a much broader filtering within the adventure.
In the final version for hybrid consoles, censorship manifests itself in several ways: Black blocks cover nudes and body partsCertain rude gestures are softened or disappear, swear words may be replaced by beeps, and scenes that previously included a strong sexual charge are now played almost silently. In some specific cases, such as the sex scene at the beginning of chapter 4, Moans, grunts, and insults are removed from the audio., which leaves a much more watered-down sequence than on other platforms.
Community criticism and awkward comparisons
The reaction from the community was swift. On forums, social media, and communities like Reddit, numerous players have expressed their opinions. their discontent with both Nintendo's policy and AdHoc's decision to adapt without offering alternativesMany believe that the game loses strength and coherence by introducing large black bars on the screen and forced silences, especially since the work is built precisely on the naturalness with which it addresses adult relationships and sexuality.
What is most frequently repeated in the reviews is the feeling of inconsistency in the application of the eShop criteriaIt is often mentioned that low-budget games with the word "game" continue to appear in the Nintendo digital store. “hentai” in the title, alongside covers with minimally dressed anime-style characters, and that there are titles like The Witcher 3 o Cyberpunk 2077 available with their nudity and sex scenes intact. In the specific case of Cyberpunk 2077, the contrast is even more evident: the game arrives on Switch 2 without cuts to its sexual contentwhile Dispatch is subject to strict filters.
Analysts and content creators have commented ironically on this situation, pointing out that There doesn't seem to be a uniform criterion. And the bar for what's acceptable rises or falls depending on the title. Although Nintendo has removed several hentai games in recent years and reduced part of its catalog, there are still Productions with high erotic content are still availableThis fuels the perception that Dispatch has been treated particularly harshly. The act of censoring even a simple middle finger in the Switch version has been cited as an example of selective puritanism.
Technical performance and commercial success despite the controversy
Beyond the discussion about censorship, Dispatch continues to operate on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 some adapted but solid technical parametersOn the original hybrid console, the game runs at around 720p and 30 frames per second, while on Switch 2 it aims for resolutions up to 1440p and 60 fps in desktop modeThe resolution drops to 1080p on handheld. Since it's an adventure focused on dialogue, close-ups, and choices, the performance is sufficient to enjoy it without the graphical limitations affecting the experience.
In purely creative terms, most analyses agree in highlighting the charisma of the characters, the writing of the dialogues, and the pacing of the chaptersThe episodic format, with staggered releases in its original launch, managed to hook a player base that has grown through word of mouth. In just a few weeks, the title surpassed the three million copies sold globally, establishing itself as one of the great surprises of the recent independent scene.
That performance has had direct consequences: Dispatch has become a regular on recommended lists, it has achieved very high ratings in specialized media and has earned a place among the contenders for major industry awards. In fact, its unique release schedule—with a season that ended late compared to other productions—left it out of some 2025 awards, but it's widely assumed that will compete in the major ceremonies the following year, including the Game Awards.
A sequel is on the horizon and a promising future despite the shadows.
Alongside their launch on Nintendo consoles, AdHoc Studio and their creative partners are already looking beyond the first game. The developers have hinted in various interviews that Talks have already taken place to develop a "Season 2" of DispatchAnd they're even working on other projects set in different universes, such as a collaboration set in the world of Exandria with Critical Role. Critical Role's management has stated that the conditions for combining both developments are well on track, fueling expectations of a sequel sooner than many imagine.
The general perception is that, beyond the specific controversy surrounding the Switch version, Dispatch has a long way to go.The playable series formula, the sardonic tone, and the blend of drama and humor have resonated with an audience that is clamoring for more stories in this universe. If sales figures hold steady and reviews remain positive, it's logical that AdHoc and its partners will expand the brand with new seasons, spin-offs, or related projects.
At the same time, the Dispatch case at Nintendo leaves several questions unanswered about How will European and global platforms manage adult content in the coming years?The game demonstrates that it's possible to combine a mature approach with self-censorship tools for those who want them, but it also shows that the final decision usually rests with the companies that control the digital stores. In this context, it's no surprise that many players in Spain and the rest of Europe are considering Whether to upgrade to the Switch version, accept its cutbacks, or continue opting for unfiltered editions on PC and other consoles.
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