Dispatch continues to be in controversy following the censorship of the game on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 ports on release. Shortly after the game launched on Nintendo’s platforms on January 28, 2026, players found that its optional visual censorship settings were permanently enabled, with no way to turn them off.
It appears that Nintendo isn't behind the censorship on Dispatch Switch Edition. The game is also censored for PS5 in Japan.
— Kābī (@KirPinkFury) January 30, 2026
People at Reddit believe CERO is the culprit (https://t.co/B1WOXm7gbO). And this latest Nintendo statement (photo) seems to point into this direction. pic.twitter.com/FpG2qptPIS
Nintendo has now responded to the backlash, distancing itself from direct responsibility while insisting that developer AdHoc Studio retains full control over how or if the issue is resolved. Fans are now demanding answers, requesting refunds, and it seems we need news from the developers on this matter.
Nintendo Denies Responsibility for Dispatch Censorship
In Nintendo’s official statement yesterday, the company responded to the recent criticism that it had forced AdHoc Studio to censor the game. According to the statement, the company’s role begins and ends with enforcing platform standards and not with what content makes it into the game or not.
Dispatch is censored on both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
— Pirat_Nation 🔴 (@Pirat_Nation) January 28, 2026
Nudity gets black bars, some moans are muted, and the "Visual Censorship" toggle (available on PC/PS5) is permanently on no way to uncensor it. pic.twitter.com/snFxYVDqPk
Nintendo explained that all games released on its systems must receive ratings from independent organizations and comply with its platform guidelines. When a game does not meet those requirements, Nintendo says it informs the developer, but does not modify the content directly or dictate how issues should be resolved.
So basically, what they’re trying to say is that any changes made to Dispatch were implemented by AdHoc Studio, not Nintendo. Assuming that this is true, it places the responsibility for how the censorship was handled squarely back on the developer. Nintendo also declined to comment on specific content decisions or the criteria used to flag potential issues.
Fans Continue to Get Refunds and Question AdHoc Studios
The censorship itself is only one part of the problem for many fans. The main problem has been the lack of communication prior to launch. The Nintendo eShop listing had an M rating and still referenced nudity as part of the content, even though those scenes are now permanently obscured by black boxes and muted audio.
We only found the altered content once players actually started playing the game, or when reviews began mentioning it. AdHoc Studio previously stated that it worked with Nintendo to ensure Dispatch met platform criteria, while maintaining that the core narrative and gameplay remained intact.
But with his new statement from Nintendo, it seems like AdHoc may have opted to submit a single, globally censored build of Dispatch for the Switch instead of making separate regional versions. While that approach may have reduced costs and development time, it has also resulted in all Switch players receiving what appears to be a version tailored to Japan’s more restrictive standards. Nick Herman, AdHoc Studio co-founder, posted a comprehensive Discord statement:
Adhoc’s statement on Switch censorship
byu/fantasypseudonym inDispatchAdHoc
AdHoc Studio thus has since confirmed that the leading player theory was correct: they opted to submit a single, globally compliant build for the Switch to streamline development. This decision essentially applied Japan’s stricter CERO standards to all regions. However, following the backlash, the studio has promised to make things right.
AdHoc is already collaborating with Nintendo on a “restoration patch” aimed at bringing the Western versions of the game closer to the uncensored PC and PS5 builds. While they caution that the console certification process means this update will take weeks rather than days, the studio has finally provided the clarity fans were seeking.
Do you think this patch will satisfy disappointed fans? Let us know in the comments!
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