Dispatch Switch Censorship Controversy: Developer Apologizes for Hidden Disclaimer, Explains Nintendo's Content Guidelines

Dispatch sold a million copies in ten days—a dream launch for indie studio AdHoc. That dream was quickly complicated by a censorship controversy on Nintendo Switch, sparked not by the edits themselves, but by where the developer placed the disclaimer. The narrative-driven detective game's explosive success has become a pivotal case study in the complex dance indie studios must perform when bringing mature titles to family-friendly consoles.

The Apology and the "Hidden" Disclaimer

In a candid admission, AdHoc Studio addressed the growing discontent head-on. The core issue was not the censorship—which the studio knew was necessary—but the perceived lack of transparency. The disclaimer explaining the altered content was placed in a dedicated field on the Nintendo eShop literally titled "Disclaimer," a section many players never check.

The studio acknowledged this poor placement, in what it called "the absolute worst spot," made it "look like it was trying to hide" the information—a terrible optic for a game built on trust. "Lots of lessons learned here," the developer stated. In a swift corrective action, the studio updated the store pages in the Americas region hours after launch, moving the information to the prominent "About The Game" section. Updates for other regional stores are either complete or under review.

What Was Censored on the Switch Version

AdHoc Studio provided specific details on the changes. To comply with Nintendo's guidelines, the Switch version features black boxes obscuring explicit graphical content and has toned-down audio for sex scenes. The developer stressed a critical point: beyond these presentational alterations, the gameplay and narrative remain "identical to the original release" on other platforms. The core mystery and player choices are untouched.

This highlights a common point of confusion. Many players and media outlets assumed that because games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077 are on Switch with mature content intact, the platform had a blanket allowance. Dispatch's experience proves this is not the case; each title's content is subject to individual review.

Nintendo's Content Guidelines and the Submission Process

The path to publishing on any major console is governed by strict rulesets. Nintendo requires all games to receive official age ratings from organizations like the ESRB or PEGI. Crucially, every title must also meet Nintendo's own internal content and platform guidelines—a separate layer of scrutiny.

Dispatch, in its original form, did not meet these guidelines. The required changes were a necessity for release on the Switch ecosystem. This dual-layered process creates a significant hurdle for developers of mature indie titles, who must navigate not only public ratings but also a private, often opaque, set of platform standards. AdHoc has confirmed it is working with Nintendo on a potential future update to address "at least some of the censored content," but cautions that such changes, due to required certification, could take several weeks.

Player Response, Sales Success, and Future Plans

Despite the controversy, Dispatch's commercial performance has been spectacular. Surpassing one million sales in under two weeks is a triumph. Player feedback has been a mix of praise for the game's core design and criticism regarding the censorship, with some expressing demand for the more explicit PC content.

This feedback is directly influencing the future. Riding the wave of success, AdHoc Studio is actively considering a second season. Intriguingly, the studio noted that player response might lead this new season to include more sex scenes, a direct acknowledgment of audience desires. The current controversy serves as a hard-learned lesson in platform compliance that will shape future console projects.

The Dispatch Switch saga is a multifaceted story about modern game publishing: the tension between artistic vision and platform rules, the critical importance of clear communication, and the passionate response of a player community. AdHoc Studio's swift apology and corrective actions show a developer learning in real-time. As the studio moves forward—weighing player feedback that may lead to more explicit content in a potential sequel—this controversy will stand as a foundational lesson in balancing creative ambition with the practical realities of console storefronts.

Tags: Dispatch, Nintendo Switch, censorship, indie games, AdHoc Studio