Censorship
Ongoing coverage on Censorship.
Latest coverage
I'm boycotting Love and Deepspace for killing my virtual boyfriend, and so are 251,000 other loyal widows
Thousands of players are boycotting the romance simulation game Love and Deepspace after developer Infold Games canceled the release of a character named Valko due to controversy. The developer has reportedly ignored community pleas to restore the character, leading to significant player dissatisfaction and a reported drop in revenue and downloads. The author criticizes Infold Games for succumbing to pressure and failing to represent the diverse desires of its female player base.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic devs were so committed to the RPG's bad language that they spent a day…
Developers for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic faced restrictions from Lucasfilm regarding the use of the word 'damn'. Despite a writer's efforts to find in-film precedents, most instances were removed due to rights holder decisions, though a few remained, contributing to the game's T for Teen ESRB rating.
Saudi Arabia’s $55 Billion EA Takeover Casts a Shadow Over Mass Effect 5
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has acquired a controlling stake in Electronic Arts for $55 billion, taking the publisher private. This acquisition raises concerns among fans and developers about potential censorship and changes to inclusive content in franchises like Mass Effect and The Sims, particularly given the country's laws regarding homosexuality. The future of Mass Effect 5, currently in early development at BioWare, is now uncertain under new ownership.
Larian gets briefly kicked off YouTube, TikTok for demonic smut reasons in Baldur's Gate 3
Larian Studios' official streams on YouTube and TikTok were briefly taken down due to content issues during a Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough by senior communications director Aofie Wilson. The game's streamer-friendly mode failed to censor certain scenes, leading to the temporary suspension of the stream. Both Larian and Wilson humorously acknowledged the incident, and the channels have since been restored.
Stellar Blade Switch 2 age rating suggests release date news could be imminent, and we probably won't be seeing any…
Stellar Blade has received an M rating from the ESRB for its Nintendo Switch 2 version, suggesting an imminent release date announcement. The rating indicates that the game will retain its mature content, including depictions of violence and sexualization, similar to its PlayStation 5 and PC releases. This port is expected to launch in 2026.
Issues and Activism
Developer Robert Yang is facing censorship issues while attempting to release his award-winning game collection, 'Just Too Gay,' on Steam and Itch. The collection is being offered for free, highlighting ongoing struggles with content restrictions in the gaming industry.
"Just too gay" - Robert Yang is battling censorship to launch a collection of his award-winning games on Steam and Itch, and it's completely free
Developer Robert Yang is facing censorship issues with his collection of experimental games, Radiator Forever, which is available for free on Steam and Itch.io. Yang criticizes platforms like Steam for stricter content rules, particularly regarding adult and LGBTQ+ themes, which he argues are unfairly applied compared to mainstream titles. The collection, initially featuring four remastered games, will be expanded over time with more of Yang's acclaimed and politically charged works.
'Valve isn't interested in a nuanced conversation' says indie dev suffering from Steam censorship
Indie developer Robert Yang has detailed his struggles with Steam's content moderation policies, which have led to his games being hidden from most users due to their 'gay' nature and sexual content. Yang criticizes Valve for not engaging in nuanced conversations about content, contrasting it with the more permissive approach to sexual content in mainstream titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3. This situation highlights the ongoing impact of censorship on indie creators, even after broader crackdowns on adult content have subsided.
"Compliance-in-advance is never enough to appease a zealous censor": Robert Yang on the current challenge of bringing experimental gay games to Steam
Developer Robert Yang discusses the difficulties of releasing experimental gay games like his collection Radiator Forever on platforms like Steam. He highlights issues with content moderation, age verification, and censorship campaigns that lead to games being hidden or geoblocked, even when developers attempt to comply with platform guidelines.
Dispatch tackles Nintendo's Switch censorship requirements with a brilliantly named HR Violations update and an oozing jam donut where the dong should be
AdHoc has released an 'HR Violations Pack' update for its game Dispatch on Nintendo Switch, addressing Nintendo's censorship requirements. Players can now choose to enable or disable various visual elements, though some audio censorship remains. The game, which has sold over 1 million copies, will also receive these options on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox.
Dispatch developer provides new censorship options in HR Violations update
AdHoc Studio has released the 'HR Violations' update for its game Dispatch, adding new censorship options for nudity and language. While these options are available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, the Switch version remains more heavily censored than others, with AdHoc Studio citing Nintendo's policies. An Xbox version is also planned for release later this year.
Dispatch HR Violations Pack Update Restores Content on Nintendo Switch
AdHoc Studios has released a free update for Dispatch, titled The HR Violations Pack, addressing player concerns about censorship on the Nintendo Switch version. The update restores previously censored content and introduces new filtering options, including a chaotic mode with absurd visual replacements, while also being available on PlayStation 5 and PC. Some restrictions remain due to Nintendo's requirements, but the studio aims to provide more transparency and player choice.
Evening Reading - June 17, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several gaming news items including the launch of Pokemon Champions on mobile, Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions' early access, and Epic Games' stance on generative AI in Unreal Engine 6. It also notes the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 5's first new heist in years and the porting of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 to PlayStation consoles.
Dispatch on Nintendo Switch 2 gets censorship toned down but it’s still there
The game Dispatch has received an update that tones down its censorship on the Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. While the community initially reacted negatively to the heavy censorship upon release, the new update addresses some of these concerns, though certain aspects remain censored.
Dispatch Has Found The Funniest Possible Way To Fix Its Switch Censorship
Developer AdHoc has released a "HR Violations Pack" patch for Dispatch on Nintendo Switch, addressing player complaints about censorship. The patch introduces options to reveal previously censored content, though some restrictions from Nintendo remain. The studio apologized for the initial censored release and stated the success of the game allowed them to rectify the situation.
Dispatch ‘HR Violations Update’ now available, addresses some censorship on Switch 2 and Switch
AdHoc Studio has released the free "HR Violations Update" for Dispatch, adding optional censorship features to the PlayStation 5 and PC versions, and addressing censorship on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. The update allows players to choose between partial or full coverage for visual and audio content, with different styles like Mosaic, Chaotic, and Blackout available depending on the region.
Dispatch just got a Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch update to reduce censorship
AdHoc Studio has released a "HR Violations" update for Dispatch on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, addressing player concerns about censorship. While some content like genitalia remains censored due to Nintendo's requirements, the update tones down other restrictions and adds new visual filters for customization across multiple platforms, including PC and PlayStation 5.
Dispatch update rolls back most of its Switch censorship
AdHoc Studio has released an update for its narrative game Dispatch, rolling back most of the censorship previously implemented in the Nintendo Switch version. The HR Violations update restores content like nudity and middle fingers, aligning it with other platforms, though some content remains restricted per Nintendo guidelines. New visual censorship options have also been added.
Dispatch's Free 'HR Violations Pack' DLC Removes Some Censorship On Switch
AdHoc Studios has released a free DLC called the 'HR Violations Pack' for the Nintendo Switch versions of Dispatch, addressing censorship options. While it adds a 'Partial Coverage' toggle for nudity and profanity, some content remains censored due to Nintendo's requirements, with full frontal nudity and explicit audio still unavailable. The developer apologized for not making the censorship differences clear at launch.
Dispatch Developer Addresses Controversial Switch Censorship With New Patch — Though 'Some Hard Requirements From Nintendo' Remain
AdHoc Studio has released a patch for Dispatch on Nintendo Switch to address player concerns about in-game censorship, restoring more nudity options. However, the developer noted that some 'hard requirements from Nintendo' still limit full customization.