To make the Nintendo Switch online experience a little bit safer, Nintendo has expanded the list of phrases that are forbidden. The Nintendo Switch is widely regarded as being a more family-friendly console than its competitors, and the company itself works to uphold this reputation by not only releasing more games for the system that are geared towards families but also by making the virtual experience for it a safer place for kids and their families. Yet because words and their meanings naturally change over time, it is Nintendo's responsibility to update the list of terms that are prohibited from online games. 

The bad words database was also updated. Some rearranging has taken place and new words were added (including sexually charged language, drug-related terms, words related to grooming, swears, etc).

Some system text was tweaked to fix typos and/or to improve phrasing.

— OatmealDome (@OatmealDome) February 21, 2023

Many references to horrific killings have been added to the list, according to Nintendo dataminer OatmealDome, including individuals and groups like Adam Lanza (Sandy Hook), ISIS, Salv8dor (Uvlade), and Alek Minassian (Toronto). If you're wondering why Nintendo forbade "Salv8dor" but not the name "Salvador," it's probably because it's both a popular name and the name of a country. 

Nintendo has had a list of phrases that are forbidden from usage in its online games for years as many of its games have shifted to a more popular online experience. Games with more robust multiplayer features, such as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, are included in this list. Nintendo occasionally intervenes to reorder the terms, replace some of them, or simply add new prohibited words to the list, typically with a system update. 

"Groomer" is another intriguing addition to the list of words that are forbidden. Although the connotation of the word is fairly obvious, it has become more frequently used in recent years to disparage members of the LGBTQ+ community. We don't know the exact reasons behind Nintendo's decision to add the phrase to its list, but its rising popularity among right-wing and conservative lawmakers probably played a significant role. 

Companies must adapt to the rapidly changing environment in order to ensure that particular consumer demographics are either shielded from such content or informed in advance, as in the Sinnerman questline from Cyberpunk 2077. Nintendo deems it appropriate to continually update its ban list in order to safeguard its younger consumers while they continue to play its online games.