Suggestive Japanese bullet hell shooter banned on US and EU Switch stores but approved in Japan  

Solo Japanese developer Outside announced that the Switch version of Redneg Allstars Swing-By Edition will now be a Japan exclusive. This is because the top-down bullet hell shooter has apparently been refused classification in both Europe and the US, essentially making it a banned Switch game in those territories. 

Redneg Allstars Swing-By Edition previously released on Steam back in June 2024 in Japanese and English. The non-stop, boss rush shooter currently has a Very Positive rating, with all 58 of the game’s reviews being positive. The developer announced on X back in November that Redneg Allstars would be getting a Switch release. However, in response to a user’s question, Outside revealed that the game would not be available on the Switch online store outside Japan due to it being rejected by censors. 

According to the developer, Redneg Allstars has not been approved for release on Nintendo’s online stores in the US and Europe due to “expression restrictions.” This likely has something to do with some of the game’s characters being rather busty, a few suggestive illustrations, as well as veiled references to drug abuse. Although the shooter is not graphic at all when compared to the nudity or drug use found in other games released on the Switch (like The Witcher 3 or Disco Elysium, for example), the failure to pass the censors could be related to Redneg Allstars’ presentation. The game’s cutesy pastel artstyle could, at first glance, be mistaken for a game that is 100% appropriate for children. This may be why Nintendo won’t sell it on their European and US stores. 

Players living outside Japan who really want to get Redneg Allstars Swing-By Edition on their Switch will still be able to purchase it on the Japanese Nintendo Store. 

Redneg Allstars Swing-By Edition is available now on PC (Steam) and Switch (Japan’s My Nintendo Store).