"Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen" just dropped on the Nintendo eShop, sending a wave of nostalgia through veteran trainers eager to revisit the Kanto region. But this Switch port comes with a new twist that's got the community buzzing: certain crude or offensive names are now off-limits.
For years, giving your character or rivals hilariously inappropriate (or downright vulgar) names has been a cherished, albeit unofficial, Pokémon tradition. There's a special kind of joy in Professor Oak earnestly referring to his grandson by some ridiculous moniker, or hearing absurd congratulations upon beating the game. However, it seems this "unserious creativity" is now being reined in for the Switch version.
According to reports from overseas media, players attempting to input certain crude terms will find the system automatically overwriting them with default, innocuous names like "Gary" or "Janne." The blocked vocabulary includes explicit sexual references and profanity. That said, some milder terms still seem to slip through, indicating the censorship isn't an ironclad lockdown.
Insiders speculate this move is likely a preemptive strike against players screenshotting and sharing inappropriate content, especially in an era where social media can spread such images like wildfire. After all, "FireRed/LeafGreen"'s return coincides with the "Pokémon" series' 30th anniversary, and the official word might be to keep the brand image squeaky clean.
Whatever the reason, players accustomed to mischievous naming conventions will have to dial back their creativity for this Kanto comeback. Still, the core game remains untouched, the classic journey awaits—it's just that this time, Professor Oak probably won't be deadpanning those cringe-worthy names anymore.
via： Kotaku