The Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 ports of Dispatch have made censorship of character nudity a mandatory part of the episodic game, as players who buy the title on Nintendo systems will not have the option to toggle it off. The change was discovered once Dispatch was released on Nintendo's consoles on January 28.
Originally launched on PC and PS5 in October 2025, Dispatch is a narrative adventure game that had its story told across eight episodes. Dispatch puts players in control of Robert Roertson III, AKA Mecha Man, a dispatcher tasked with rehabilitating former supervillains via the Phoenix Program. Dispatch's voice cast is full of recognizable names that gamers may recognize, including award-winning actor Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad, members of the Critical Role web series such as Laura Bailey and Matthew Mercer, and content creators like Jacksepticeye and MoistCr1TiKaL.
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Dispatch's Nintendo Ports Made Visual Censorship Mandatory
With the arrival of Dispatch on the Switch and Switch 2, players found out that one of the game's options is forced on by default on Nintendo's systems. The Visual Censorship option, which was an optional toggle on the PC and PS5 versions of Dispatch, is completely gone as a player-toggle option in the Switch and Switch 2 ports. Ergo, Visual Censorship is forced on when playing Dispatch on Nintendo systems, leaving players with no way to remove it. Visual Censorship places black bars over characters in scenes containing nudity or obscene hand gestures. However, the game's Profanity Censorship toggle remains intact, as Nintendo users can still keep the coarse dialogue on if they want to.
After the censorship changes were uncovered by fans, Dispatch developer AdHoc Studio stated that it worked with Nintendo to adapt specific parts of the game's content so that it could launch on the Switch and Switch 2 consoles. AdHoc added that different platforms have different criteria for evaluating the content that goes on their storefronts, with each submission being treated individually.
Throughout Dispatch's episodes, the game allows players to choose a potential romantic interest for Mecha Man, with Invisigal and Blonde Blazer being the two main candidates. The main story of Dispatch's fourth episode is headlined by this romantic choice from the start, as the episode's intro contains a steamy scene that was noticeably altered for the Nintendo ports of the game. Not only were black bars present throughout this segment of Dispatch episode 4, but the scene in question had its vocal audio and dialogue cut to comply with Nintendo's standards. The scene's uncensored version can still be seen in the PS5 and PC ports of Dispatch. Despite the stark changes, Nintendo's censorship rules did not result in Dispatch having to cut any episodes or pivotal story moments. Additionally, the Switch 2 port of Dispatch contains improved frame rates and enhanced visual resolutions compared to the Switch version.
Nintendo's Censorship Policies Are Not Consistent
This is not the first time that Dispatch has received censorship from Nintendo. In December 2025, keen-eyed fans noted that the cover art of Dispatch's Artbook and Comics Pack DLC was censored on the Nintendo eShop. Swimwear worn by characters like Malevola and Blonde Blazer was changed for the eShop version to cover up more skin than the PS5 and PC versions of the same DLC.
That said, Nintendo's censorship rules still have a few notable exceptions to them. Some titles released for Nintendo consoles, including the Switch 2 port of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, still contain full character customization that includes nudity consistent with other versions of CD Projekt Red's open-world RPG. Time will tell how Nintendo's policies will impact Dispatch's reception on the eShop.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
- Released
- October 22, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood, Crude Humor, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- AdHoc Studio
- Publisher(s)
- AdHoc Studio
WHERE TO PLAY
From the writers & directors of Tales from the Borderlands and The Wolf Among Us, Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy set in modern day Los Angeles.
You play as Robert Robertson, AKA Mecha Man, whose mech-suit is destroyed in a battle against his nemesis, forcing him to take a job at a superhero dispatch center: not as a hero, but a dispatcher. In charge of rehabilitating a group of ex-supervillains, you must manage your roster while navigating office relationships and rebuilding your suit for a shot at revenge.
SHAPE YOUR STORY - In Dispatch, every decision you make influences the unfolding narrative. From banter in the breakroom to life-or-death situations in the field, your choices affect your relationships with the heroes, their allegiances, and the path your own story takes.
DEPLOY YOUR HEROES - Use the strategy map to review ongoing emergencies and deploy the right (or wrong) heroes to deal with them. Balance the risks and rewards as you make tactical decisions, knowing that each choice can have lasting consequences for your team and the city.
MANAGE YOUR MISFITS - Managing heroes sometimes goes beyond their powers. Each hero comes with quirks, flaws, and baggage you’ll need to navigate to keep the team together. Upgrade their skills and unlock abilities to boost their effectiveness in the field.
Blending narrative, strategy, and humor, Dispatch explores what it means to be a hero, whether you're wearing a cape or behind a desk.
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- October 22, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- October 22, 2025
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- January 28, 2026
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- January 28, 2026
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Point-and-click, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Source: NintendoLife