Dispatch’s Switch Censorship Sparks Debate: Nintendo’s Content Guidelines Under Scrutiny

In a surprising turn of events, the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 release of the popular visual novel game Dispatch has ignited a heated discussion about content moderation and platform guidelines in the gaming industry. The controversy centers on the game’s censorship implementation, which differs significantly from other platforms.

On PC, PlayStation, and Xbox versions of Dispatch, players have the option to toggle explicit content on or off through a content filter. However, the Switch versions take a different approach – all potentially explicit material is censored by default using black rectangles to cover sensitive areas, including genitalia and offensive gestures. Additionally, audio cues suggesting sexual activity have been toned down.

“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,” developer AdHoc stated in response to the controversy.

Nintendo later released a statement to GoNintendo clarifying their position: “We require all games on our platforms to receive ratings from independent organizations and to meet our established content and platform guidelines. While we inform partners when their titles don’t meet our guidelines, Nintendo does not make changes to partner content. We also do not discuss specific content or the criteria used in making these determinations.”

The situation becomes more perplexing when considering that other games on Nintendo platforms contain explicit content. The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 both feature nudity and mature themes on Switch, and the eShop has long hosted adult-oriented visual novels and hentai games. Speculation has arisen that AdHoc may have implemented censorship to comply with Japanese content regulations, where Cyberpunk 2077 is also censored, and opted for a single global version across all Nintendo platforms.

This controversy highlights the ongoing challenges developers face when navigating platform-specific content guidelines and the expectations of diverse gaming audiences across different regions.

New Releases

Highguard: Former Apex Legends Developers’ New Shooter

Wildlight Entertainment, a studio formed by veterans from Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends and Titanfall franchises, has launched its debut title Highguard – a 3v3 raid shooter that generated significant buzz when it was revealed at The Game Awards 2025.

The game’s journey to release was unconventional. Originally planned for a simultaneous reveal and launch strategy (similar to Apex Legends‘ surprise drop), the studio was unexpectedly featured at The Game Awards after host Geoff Keighley, a friend of the development team, was impressed by the game. This forced Wildlight to rush a trailer, disrupting their carefully laid plans.

The aftermath has been challenging, with the game facing review bombing and a strange backlash from some segments of the gaming community. Despite this, early players have found Highguard to be an engaging blend of hero shooter and MOBA mechanics. The game features tight gunplay reminiscent of its developers’ previous work, with weapons that feel well-tuned and responsive.

Set across large maps that some players feel are too expansive for six-player matches, Highguard offers unique elements like riding into battle on the back of a bear. The game is available now as a free-to-play title on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Don’t Stop, Girlypop! – A Hyperpop Arena Shooter with Style

Funny Fintan Softworks and publisher Kwalee have released Don’t Stop, Girlypop!, an arena shooter that combines Doom Eternal-style gameplay with Y2K aesthetics and hyperpop music. The game features a killer soundtrack from artists like Sarah Wolfe, Xavier Dunn, and Candice Susnjar, perfectly complementing its chaotic visual style.

Players can customize their weapons with rhinestones and baby shark decorations, adding a playful touch to the intense combat. The game introduces a unique movement system where speed directly correlates to damage output and healing – the faster you move, the more powerful you become.

However, the game faces some challenges. The fast pace and visual clutter can make enemy detection difficult, and the narrative about resource exploitation doesn’t always land effectively. The wave hop mechanic, while innovative, requires complex input combinations that can lead to hand cramping during extended play sessions.

Available on Steam for $20 with a 10% launch discount until February 5, Don’t Stop, Girlypop! offers a distinctive experience for players seeking something different in the arena shooter genre.

Cairn – The Climbing Game That’s Scaling Critical Praise

The Game Bakers’ Cairn has launched to positive reviews, offering players a realistic climbing experience that captures both the beauty and danger of mountaineering. Following in the footsteps of games like Jusant, Cairn provides an immersive simulation of rock climbing that has resonated with critics and players alike.

The game’s release timing is particularly interesting, coming shortly after Alex Honnold’s real-world free solo climb of a skyscraper, which has brought renewed attention to climbing as both sport and spectacle. Cairn offers players the opportunity to experience similar thrills without the life-threatening risks.

Available now on PS5 and Steam for $30, with a 10% discount on Steam until February 12 and on PS5 for PS Plus members until February 13, Cairn represents a growing trend of realistic sports simulations in gaming.

Steel Century Groove – Rhythm Battles Meet Pokémon-Style RPG

Solo developer Sloth Gloss Games has launched Steel Century Groove, a rhythm game that combines dance battles with Pokémon-style RPG elements. Players control robots in musical combat, featuring both original compositions and licensed tracks. The game’s standout feature allows players to import their own MP3 files, with the game generating procedurally-generated choreography and charts based on the music.

The ability to manually adjust BPM ensures that custom tracks play smoothly, while the core rhythm gameplay offers satisfying feedback and progression systems. Available on Steam for $20 with a 10% launch discount until February 11, Steel Century Groove includes a demo with progress that carries over to the full game.

Wanderling – A Roguelike Platformer Without Combat

Rosday’s Wanderling offers a fresh take on the roguelike genre by removing combat entirely. Instead, players have eight attempts to gather equipment and knowledge necessary to progress through dungeons. The game emphasizes exploration, resource management, and strategic planning over traditional combat mechanics.

With runs lasting between 20-30 minutes, Wanderling provides bite-sized roguelike experiences that respect players’ time. The visual style draws comparisons to Celeste, while the marker system allows players to note important locations for future runs. Available on Steam for $8 (with a 10% discount bringing it to $7.20 until February 2), Wanderling offers an accessible entry point to the roguelike genre.

Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator – Strange Scaffold’s Latest Oddity

Strange Scaffold, known for their unconventional titles like Clickolding, I Am Your Beast, and Co-op Kaiju Horror Cooking, has released Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator. Set in the same universe as their previous Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator, this stock market simulation game tasks players with speculating on the “simulated lives of babies.”

The game’s satirical take on prediction markets and financial speculation offers commentary on real-world trading practices while maintaining Strange Scaffold’s signature absurdist humor. Available on Steam for $20 with a 15% discount until February 12, the game is also coming to Xbox Series X/S in the near future.

I Hate This Place – Survival Horror Based on Comic Book

Rock Square Thunder, Broken Mirror Games, and Skybound Entertainment have adapted Kyle Starks and Artyom Topilin’s comic book series into the survival horror game I Hate This Place. The game maintains the comic’s distinctive visual style while adding ’80s horror movie influences.

Innovative audio visualization helps players navigate the game’s challenges, with onomatopoeic words appearing on screen and color-coded footsteps indicating enemy positions. Crafting plays a crucial role in survival, requiring players to gather resources and create necessary items.

Available on Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X/S for $30 with a 20% launch discount on some platforms, I Hate This Place offers a fresh take on the survival horror genre.

Rebadge – A Young Developer’s Puzzle Platformer

17-year-old solo developer Yuumayay has released Rebadge, a puzzle platformer that draws inspiration from games like Baba Is You. The game’s unique mechanic involves carrying badges that grant abilities like movement and jumping, which can be thrown to lose the associated power but then applied to other objects in the environment.

This clever twist on traditional platforming mechanics creates interesting puzzle scenarios and encourages creative problem-solving. Available on Steam for $8 with a 15% launch discount, Rebadge demonstrates the potential of young indie developers in the gaming industry.

Upcoming Releases

Darkhaven – Diablo Veterans Return with New ARPG

Moon Beast Productions, formed by creators of the original Diablo and Diablo II, has revealed gameplay for their debut title Darkhaven. This fantasy isometric action RPG aims to capture the magic of classic ARPGs while introducing modern features like procedurally generated, destructible worlds and massive world-threatening events.

The gameplay shown has been described as somewhat rough, but given the early development stage, there’s plenty of time for refinement. The studio is planning a Kickstarter campaign to fund further development, with interested players able to wishlist the game on Steam.

Box or Void – Dual-Plane Puzzle Innovation

Dumen Games is developing Box or Void, a puzzle game that innovates by taking place across two planes – positive and negative space. Players switch between these planes, with obstacles in one becoming pathways in the other. The box-pushing mechanics add another layer of complexity to the spatial puzzles.

A demo featuring 32 levels (approximately one-fifth of the planned full game) is available on Steam, giving players a taste of the game’s unique mechanics while the full release date remains unannounced.

Good Boy – Petroidvania with a Heartwarming Twist

Observer Interactive and Team17 are collaborating on Good Boy, described as a “petroidvania” where reincarnated puppies become space rovers. This creature-collecting Metroidvania combines exploration, ability progression, and charming narrative elements in a way that has generated significant excitement among players.

Scheduled for release on Steam later this year, Good Boy promises to deliver both the satisfying progression of Metroidvanias and the emotional connection of pet simulation games.

Tags: Dispatch Switch censorship, Nintendo content guidelines, Highguard review, Apex Legends developers, Don’t Stop Girlypop review, Cairn climbing game, Steel Century Groove rhythm game, Wanderling roguelike, Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator, I Hate This Place horror game, Rebadge puzzle platformer, Darkhaven ARPG, Box or Void puzzle game, Good Boy petroidvania, indie game releases, gaming controversy, visual novel censorship, Nintendo Switch 2, game development news

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