Digimon World: Next Order has finally been released for the Nintendo Switch, but it's missing a feature that the PC and PS4 included. The development may be a disappointment to gamers who like to stick to the original Digimon World experience as closely as possible.
Digimon World: Next Order brings players to the digital Digimon World where they play as Takuto or Shiki. The playable character starts their journey with a pair of partner Digimon to train and battle with, which can evolve and change over time if certain requirements are met. While the game initially launched back in 2016 on the PS Vita, it was exclusive to Japan and didn't come to the west until the game was ported to the PS4 and other systems in 2017. The ports have received a few additional perks like new Digimon and quests, but Switch players are discovering the hard way that one feature is missing from the portable console.
Digimon World: Next Order players are just getting their hands on the new ports, and have been discouraged to discover that the Switch version of the game lacks Japanese audio. Players on the Nintendo Switch are restricted to playing with English audio only, which has befuddled fans, as players have been able to freely choose whether they want Japanese audio with subtitles or English audio in the original PS4 port as well as the recent Digimon World: Next Order PC port. Bandai Namco hasn't explained why the Japanese audio is missing from the Switch version, and there are no plans publicly announced at this time to restore it.
While many players will likely be satisfied with English audio, the removal of a feature that's been available in the west from the start is bizarre. In some cases, audio is restricted when a game is ported to a platform that can't handle the extra storage needed for said audio. However, considering this game originated on the PS Vita, it seems extremely unlikely that the Switch couldn't manage to include both translations on its comparably newer hardware and expanded storage.
For now, if players want to experience the original audio, they'll have to either find an older PS4 copy or pick up Digimon World: Next Order for the PC. Thankfully, Digimon World: Next Order works on the Steam Deck, so those who want a portable Digimon experience with Japanese audio still have that as an option. That leaves those who have already picked up Digimon World: Next Order for the Switch out in the cold, though. With some luck, Bandai Namco will restore the Japanese audio in a future patch, but fans shouldn't count on it as a sure thing.
Digimon World: Next Order is out now for PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
Source: ResetEra