Nintendohas reportedly rolled out some changes to the eShop since the release of theNintendo Switch 2console, namely, extra protections surrounding what gamers used to call shovelware, and now call slop.
As we reported back in April, the Nintendo eShop had an influx of slop games, but they’ve been pushed down the visibility ladder since an update went live. While titles are still available for purchase, they’ve become a lot less visible when window shopping on Nintendo’s marketplace.
Now, it looks like Nintendo is getting to the root of the problem. Developers speaking toIGNsay that Nintendo has sent out a new set of guidelines, trying to put an end to these slop games, while also targeting titles that contain “overly sexual content”, “political statements”, and more.
Nintendo Reportedly Has New Guidelines For Games On Switch 2
These new guidelines are said to have come into effect when the Switch 2 launched, and target inaccurate game descriptions, game bundles, and titles featuring “sensitive content”.
Developers speaking to IGN feel that it is in response to complaints about slop games on Switch. Now, devs are reportedly told not to “provide inaccurate descriptions” of their games, or to make game name and description changes after launch.
On top of this, the guidelines target games that “overtly support or criticize real-life countries, organizations, or ideologies”, or anything that could prove “damaging to the Nintendo brand”. This includes sexual content, which we have seen a lot of on the eShop in recent years.
Nintendo has been dealing with the publishing of ‘eSlop’ for years. In an article published back in December 202,we reportedthat even the devs behindUnpackingcouldn’t protect their titles from supposed copyright infringement. Creative director Wren Brier said, “Nintendo hasn’t responded to any of our reports of these egregious scams, which are using our trademarked game name and purposely tricking Nintendo customers into buying cheap fakes.”
As IGN highlight, we may have seen these guidelines come into effect already. Last month,Automatonreported that the upcoming entries in the Hentai Girls series will be renamed to Kawaii Girls. Pakotime Games notes that previous titles in the Hentai Girls series will not be forced to adhere to the franchise rebranding. So, it appears Nintendo is aware of the eShop epidemic, but devs will seemingly still be able to work around the guidelines by changing their branding.
