Many players have requested refunds for Dispatch on Nintendo Switch after discovering the platform’s mandatory censorship in the game.
AdHoc’s superhero workplace, choice-driven title Dispatch was released on PlayStation consoles and PC last October to overwhelmingly positive reception. Some have even dubbed the game one of the best “TV shows” they have ever experienced, praising its visuals, characters, and immersive storyline filled with mature humour.
However, players planning to experience Dispatch on the Nintendo Switch have encountered a major deal breaker: censorship. Released on the Nintendo Switch yesterday, 28 January, players who had pre-ordered the game were shocked to discover that censorship is enabled by default, with no option to disable it–unlike on other platforms.
To make matters worse, the censorship simply slaps large black boxes over mature visuals, such as nudity, throughout various scenes and bleeps out profane language. The mandated censorship feels particularly jarring, given that the game is clearly marketed toward an adult audience and features mature dialogue throughout its episodes.
Undisclosed censorship triggers mass refunds for Dispatch on Switch
Notably, the Nintendo Switch release did not disclose any form of censorship during the pre-order period. As a result, many players who pre-ordered Dispatch have requested refunds, stating that they were denied the full experience they paid for. Most users reported that their refund requests were successful.
“It’s incredibly scummy to censor the game and not disclose this information prior to release,” one user commented under AdHoc’s Switch release announcement.
“There was a discounted pre-order with no disclosure of censorship for a very popular title that players already had expectations for? This has to be unlawful. I don’t want a partial experience for what I paid. I hope this changes, but I’ve requested a refund,” another user wrote.
While many players shared similar refund stories, others pointed out the irony of Dispatch being censored on the Nintendo Switch while the platform hosts other mature titles, including Cyberpunk 2077, which is available without censorship.
Disappointed users are calling on Nintendo Switch to provide censorship options in the game, before they consider revisiting it on the platform. Meanwhile, users are sharing details of their refund experiences.
AdHoc’s Dispatch has sold over three million copies in its first two months, and has gone on to receive nominations at The Game Awards 2025. The game’s success has even prompted developers to consider a second season, though no formal announcement has been made yet.
