Bloody Hell, Dispatch Devs Admit They 'Accidentally Hid' Switch Censorship Disclaimer – Lessons Learned, Mate?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Dispatch's developers, AdHoc Studio, have apologised after their Switch version's content censorship disclaimer was placed in an obscure spot, making it seem intentionally hidden. They blame a technical oversight for the 'worst spot' placement and are working with Nintendo on an update to restore some censored content, learning 'lots of lessons' in the process.
Right, so you know how sometimes you try to cast a minor illumination spell and instead accidentally create a pocket dimension where all the socks go? That's kinda the vibe I'm getting from AdHoc Studio, the clever chaps behind the super-successful game, Dispatch, and their recent kerfuffle with the Nintendo Switch version. Apparently, they've been busy apologising for what looked suspiciously like an attempt to hide a disclaimer about censored content on the eShop.
I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. According to Eurogamer's Vikki Blake (big thanks for the initial scoop!), AdHoc Studio dropped a statement basically saying, "Look, we didn't *mean* to hide it, we just put the notice in 'the absolute worst spot' imaginable." Honestly, mate, sounds like a classic case of wires getting crossed, or maybe a rogue imp shifting the 'Important Info' scroll to the 'Dust Bunny Collector' section.
So, what's the fuss all about? Well, Dispatch hit the Switch consoles earlier this week, and quite a few eager players – probably expecting the full, unadulterated experience they might’ve seen on other platforms – were pretty miffed to find out that explicit content was censored as standard. We're talking black boxes over graphic bits and sex noises toned down. AdHoc was quick to reassure everyone that the 'core' gameplay and narrative remained 'identical to the original release,' but let's be fair, nobody wants their digital adventure to feel like a redacted government document, do they?
Now, the studio's explanation sheds a bit more light on the arcane workings of platform guidelines. They've been pretty quiet, apparently not because they were ignoring the storm, but because they were trying to be 'good partners with Nintendo.' And fair enough, Nintendo's got rules. They're like the strict librarian of the gaming world – everything needs to be rated, and everything needs to meet their 'established content and platform guidelines.'
AdHoc reckoned they initially thought, much like some of us, that if games like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 could waltz onto the Switch with their mature content largely intact, Dispatch would be able to do the same. But alas, during the porting process, it became crystal clear that wasn't the case. And here's where the magic starts to get a bit wonky. The studio *did* ask to include a disclaimer, and they *did* work with Nintendo to get the language approved. So far, so good, right?
But this is where the wizardry went awry. AdHoc admits they 'absolutely need to take full ownership' of the *placement* of that disclaimer. See, their intent was to shout it from the digital rooftops that the Switch version was different. Instead, they popped the disclaimer into a field literally titled 'Disclaimer.' Sounds logical, in a dry, bureaucratic kind of way. But as any experienced explorer of digital storefronts will tell you, the 'Disclaimer' field is often the last place anyone actually looks, probably nestled somewhere between the copyright notice and the nutritional information for the pixels.
The real sweet spot, the 'About The Game' section, was where it needed to be – front and centre, like a neon sign for 'Warning: May Contain Less Pixels Than Expected!' They only cottoned on to their own blunder *after* launch, when players started asking why the changes weren't called out. Cue a frantic scramble to confirm it was there (it was, technically) and then a mad dash to move it to a more visible spot on the Americas store pages within hours, with other regions following suit. They've even added a pre-purchase disclaimer, which is a good shout, honestly. Better late than never, eh?
AdHoc's statement didn't pull any punches, concluding with a heartfelt, 'To our fans who were looking forward to playing the uncensored version on Switch, we're truly sorry. People have a right to be pissed.' And they're right, players *do* have a right to be pissed. Trust is a fragile thing in gaming, and even an 'accidental' misplacement can feel like a betrayal, especially when you're shelling out your hard-earned cash.
The good news? The studio is 'already working with Nintendo on a path forward' and is 'confident we'll be able to push an update to address at least some of the censored content.' The bad news? It'll take several weeks due to the console submission process. So, early adopters are still stuck in the black-box era for a bit longer. Still, it's a step in the right direction, albeit a slightly delayed one.
It’s a peculiar twist, really, considering Dispatch has been massively successful, selling over a million copies in just 10 days. The studio's even mulling over a second season, potentially with *more* sex scenes, given the 'ravenous' response to the first. It just goes to show, even when you're printing money, the digital gods can throw a spanner in the works. 'Lots of lessons learned here,' they say. Let's hope those lessons stick, because navigating the wild, chaotic world of gaming platforms requires more than just good intentions – it requires a bit of careful spell-casting, too.
(Original reporting by Vikki Blake for Eurogamer)
Tags: gaming news, nintendo switch, content censorship, developer apology, dispatch game
Original article: Eurogamer