Nintendo Removes Controversial Game from Switch eShop

Highlights

Nintendo has removed an indie game called Need for Spirit: Drink & Drive Simulator from the Switch eShop due to a mismatch in its PEGI rating and its content.

The game, created by Atomic Fabrik, centers around a skilled driver struggling with alcohol addiction while transporting alcohol to celebrations. It incorporates a camera manipulation technique to mimic the effects of drunkenness.

According to PEGI ratings, games featuring the use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco must receive a rating of 16+ or 18+. However, the eShop release of this game was mistakenly assigned a rating of 3+, resulting in its removal. PEGI is currently conducting an investigation into the matter.

Nintendo has removed a drunk driving simulation game from the Nintendo Switch eShop because its PEGI rating does not match its content. The eShop has been a consistent feature on all Nintendo hardware, including the Nintendo 3DS. Typically, games that receive a physical release also have a digital version available on the same day. Additionally, the eShop offers a wide range of exclusive games, including indie titles. Currently, the eShop is only accessible on the Switch, as the Wii U and 3DS versions have been officially discontinued as of 2023.

As stated by Eurogamer, a notable indie game called Need for Spirit: Drink & Drive Simulator, created by Atomic Fabrik, a studio based in Chisinau, was released on Steam in late 2018. The game was later made available on the Switch eShop in mid-October of this year. This first-person driving simulator distinguishes itself from similar titles by opting for a natural setting instead of traditional asphalt raceways. The story revolves around a professional driver who must navigate treacherous roads and confront his own battle with alcoholism while delivering alcohol to various parties. Need for Spirit takes pride in its innovative camera techniques that effectively mimic the experience of drunkenness. Although there is no specified age rating on the Steam page, The Epic Games Store has given it a PEGI 16+ rating due to the extensive depiction of alcohol consumption within the game.

PEGI is responsible for game ratings in Europe and requires games that include alcohol, drugs, or tobacco use to be rated 16+ or 18+. However, the eShop version of the game was given a rating of 3+, suggesting it's suitable for all ages. As a result, Nintendo has removed the game from the store until it can be properly evaluated. It is likely that the International Age Rating Coalition, which allows game publishers to submit their own ratings for evaluation, issued this inappropriate rating. Nintendo has not commented on the situation at this time.

It can be frustrating for gamers to see a game they were interested in suddenly unavailable in the digital store, and Nintendo eShop users have experienced this multiple times. Thankfully, PEGI has launched an investigation into this rating mistake and hopes to restore the game to the eShop with an appropriate rating.

Need for Spirit: Drink & Drive Simulator is available on PC, with a Switch version coming at a later date.

Source: Eurogamer