The Nintendo eShop has gained a reputation for being cluttered with low-quality titles, quick cash grabs, and adult-oriented games. Recently, the noticeable removal of many adult-themed games hints that Nintendo may finally be taking proactive measures to regulate the content available on its platform. This shift was first noted by X user Naruki, who monitors trends within the eShop.
Despite its reputation as a family-friendly platform, the Nintendo eShop has historically struggled with an overwhelming presence of not-safe-for-work (NSFW) titles. Since the majority of content management relies on algorithms, these titles often surface as attractive deals or new releases. Although most are age-restricted, the suggestive thumbnails can still alarm parents.
This issue is not new to Nintendo; the Wii eShop also faced an influx of low-quality games. However, the situation on the Switch eShop feels particularly egregious because of its marketing tactics. Developers often release new “editions” of existing titles—complete with labels like “Special,” “Ultimate,” or “Epic”—to artificially boost their rankings in the store. This practice is a blatant attempt to extract more revenue from poorly developed games.
RedDeer.Games is responsible for many of these questionable titles, releasing games like Hentai Girls and Hot & Hentai, among others. Nevertheless, the studio also produces titles that are more suitable for younger audiences. Currently, several of their games (both family-friendly and NSFW) are being offered at steep discounts, sometimes as much as 96%. This strategy seems aimed at gaining visibility, yet it doesn’t truly benefit consumers.
It remains unclear whether RedDeer.Games decided to remove these titles or if Nintendo intervened. However, many of the studio’s adult-themed games still showcase an excessive number of variant releases.
The timing of these removals raises eyebrows, especially with the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon. If Nintendo is indeed implementing stronger moderation practices, it could signal positive changes for the upcoming console’s eShop. Yet, it begs the question: why did Nintendo wait so long to tackle a problem that has persisted across multiple generations of consoles?
