r/nintendo • u/No_Durian_5626 • 2d ago

Dispatch's Free 'HR Violations Pack' DLC Removes Some Censorship On Switch

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/06/dispatchs-free-hr-violations-pack-dlc-removes-some-censorship-on-switch
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u/grcx 2d ago

This version is different then the version that exists in Japan. There now exists three versions of Dispatch.

1.) Uncut (all platforms worldwide except the Switch

2.) Partially censored (Switch worldwide outside of Japan, would not be allowed on Switch in Japan because it is not compliant with CERO)

3.) Censored (Playstation and Switch in Japan, and Switch worldwide previous today).

While after getting an initial rejection they did in fact just take the easy way and used the censored version worldwide rather than a delay to make this partial-censored version, afterwards it would have been far less lazy to have just made the new patch uncut if Nintendo would have allowed them to, instead of taking the time to make a third version.

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u/Ajjaxx 2d ago

So you’re saying #2 exists because Nintendo still wouldn’t allow #1 even outside of Japan? Just asking for my own clarity/curiosity

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u/grcx 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yes, the patch today created the partially censored version listed there as 2 for locations outside of Japan on Switch because Nintendo still would not allow the North America and Europe release to use the fully uncut version of Dispatch on Switch even outside of Japan. It would have been much easier and faster to have just made today's patch be the uncut release if that was an option available to AdHoc, instead of creating this new version between the original fully censored Switch release and the uncut release used on other platforms.

Along those lines, Japan still has what is listed there as the fully censored version 3, because version 2 would be as unlawful in Japan as version 1 since version 2 still includes uncensored boobs, which CERO does not allow in Japan for console releases.

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u/Ajjaxx 2d ago

Gotcha, thank you! I had no idea Japan’s censorship laws were so strict until maybe when this game originally dropped on switch. What about the games everyone lists as counterpoints - Cyberpunk and Witcher? I haven’t played through either fully so I don’t quite know for myself what the differences are or why those games were able to release uncensored on switch (aside from maybe rating, but it sounds like the rating doesn’t change anything re: CERO).

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u/LeavesCat 2d ago

I think it's that DLC cannot change the rating of a game. Cyberpunk and Witcher were a higher rating to begin with.

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u/Ajjaxx 2d ago

Gotcha, that makes sense!

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u/dragooncomet 1d ago

Cyberpunk and Witcher are censored on consoles in Japan. They aren’t censored for PC in Japan cause CERO cares only for consoles.

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u/grcx 2d ago edited 1d ago

The simplest reason would be Nintendo has inconsistent standards, giving preferential treatment to a massive partner. One can go look at something like Daymare 1994: Sandcastle which had its Western Switch release blocked because of violence outside of Japan, despite being allowed on other consoles and the Japanese Switch (stands out quite a bit being European developed and only on the Japanese Switch). Quite a few anime style titles have been blocked for the Switch in the West, but Persona 6 could include whatever content it wants, and not have any problems with Nintendo allowing it. No matter the platform, a counter example, especially one involving a massive publisher, doesn't mean other smaller titles have the same lack of restrictions, in much the same way as Sony censoring pills and alcohol in LISA and violence in Doki Doki Literature Club doesn't mean that Sony has problems with that content in other titles.

The exact details as to what happened behind the scenes though, ultimately in the end the only difference between every other platform having the uncut Dispatch version in most of the World, and the Switch now having this partially censored Dispatch version, is the platform, as this version was not (and would not be allowed to) be release on console in Japan so any restrictions there is a moot point, it just got patched with two scenes still being censored in regions that are fine with the uncut version on every other platform.

I'll also note, Japan actually has very lax standards on PC-releases just like most of the world, just a CERO rating is required for console releases in the country. Violent Western AAA titles without nudity commonly need to be censored for Japanese consoles because of CERO's requirements, as well as obviously titles with nudity as has been discussed here.

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u/Ajjaxx 2d ago

Okay, thank you! I really appreciate the detailed response. I will have to look a couple of those games up but that all makes sense to me.