Nintendo Says 'Nah' to Charity Speedrunning, Because Of Course They Did
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Japan's massive charity speedrunning event, RTA in Japan, won't feature any Nintendo games this year because Nintendo's strict (and frankly, a bit baffling) rules around game usage made it impossible for organisers to get permission in time. It's a classic case of Nintendo's fiercely protective IP stance clashing with community passion, but there's still hope for future collaborations.
Right, so you know how some companies just *can't help* but be themselves? Like when you try to explain the concept of 'free marketing' to a highly successful, globally recognized entity, and they just squint at you, then lawyer up? That's kinda the vibe coming from Nintendo this week, as reported by Eurogamer, bless their digital data streams for untangling this mess.
Now, for those of you who've been tinkering in your gaming labs or perhaps just living under a rock (no judgment, some of us prefer the quiet life), RTA in Japan is, as the name suggests, Japan's biggest charity speedrunning event. It's a glorious week-long spectacle where wizards of button mashing and glitch exploitation contort classic and modern games into submission, all for a fantastic cause: Doctors Without Borders. It’s the kind of wholesome, community-driven chaos that makes you remember why you fell in love with games in the first place.
This year’s marathon – running from August 9th to 15th – is packed to the brim with everything from the pixelated punishment of *Cuphead* to the existential dread of *Silent Hill 2*, with a detour through *Minecraft* for good measure. A truly eclectic mix, mate. But here's the kicker, the missing ingredient in this otherwise perfect potion: no Nintendo games. Zero. Zilch. Nada. And the reason, as revealed by the RTA organisers after months of hushed whispers, is a tale as old as time, or at least, as old as Nintendo’s IP department.
Apparently, back on June 13th, the corporate ninjas at Nintendo dropped a scroll on RTA, basically saying, "Hey, as a 'legal entity' (their words, not mine, sounds very formal, doesn't it?), you gotta ask us for permission. And also, all your previous streams? Yeah, those were 'unauthorised use'." Cue the collective gasp from every content creator who’s ever dared to stream a Mario game without sending a blood sample and their firstborn to Kyoto. It’s like they cast a spell of 'extreme caution' and accidentally turned a perfectly good community event into a legal quagmire.
The official line is that Nintendo expects RTA to apply for permission on a game-by-game basis. Can you imagine the paperwork? It’s like trying to get a permit to breathe, but only for certain types of air, and only if you fill out Form G-77B in triplicate, stamped by a certified Pokémon. The sheer complexity, especially against a tight deadline for a charity event, meant it simply wasn't practical for this year's show. And that, my friends, is why we won't be seeing any Link defying gravity or Samus blasting space pirates for Doctors Without Borders this time around.
Now, a curious gamer (like myself, obviously) can’t help but ask: why? You’d reckon a bit of free PR for a genuinely good cause would be a no-brainer, wouldn't you? Especially for titles that are decades old, and whose communities are literally keeping their cultural relevance alive through passion projects like speedrunning. But alas, this isn’t Nintendo’s first rodeo when it comes to fiercely guarding its intellectual property. Their stance has been legendary, or perhaps infamous, depending on your perspective, for years.
They've historically viewed fan content, even simple YouTube videos, not as an opportunity for engagement or free promotion, but as potential copyright infringement. There was a time they even demanded all ad revenue from streams! While that stance has softened a tad – perhaps due to the sheer impracticality of suing every single human with a Switch and an internet connection – stories still pop up, reminding us of their strict, bordering on draconian, rules. Remember the whole kerfuffle with the *Smash World Tour Championship* in 2022? Nintendo reportedly tried to halt it because they refused to grant a license to the organisers. It feels like they have a default 'no' button that's jammed.
It's a bizarre dichotomy, really. On one hand, you have a company that creates some of the most universally beloved, joyous, and community-inspiring games on the planet. On the other, you have an enforcement arm that seems to operate with the gentle touch of a brick through a window, often alienating the very fans who pour their hearts and souls into celebrating their creations. It’s like discovering your favourite wizard occasionally turns people into newts for jaywalking.
But what does this mean for the broader gaming landscape? It’s a stark reminder that while the gaming community is thriving on user-generated content, streams, and fan events, the ultimate control often still rests with the IP holders. It forces us to appreciate the publishers and developers who *do* embrace their communities, who understand that genuine passion can't always be neatly packaged and licensed.
The good news – because you know me, I always look for that glimmer of optimism in the chaotic digital ether – is that RTA in Japan organisers are currently negotiating with Nintendo, hoping to include their titles in future events. Perhaps this is a clumsy but necessary step towards a more formal, mutually beneficial relationship? One can hope, anyway. Maybe Nintendo will eventually realize that allowing passionate communities to celebrate their games, especially for charity, isn't a threat, but a gift. Until then, we’ll just have to enjoy all the *other* brilliant speedruns RTA has lined up, and maybe, just maybe, Nintendo will cast a 'common sense' spell on themselves for next year.
Tags: Gaming News, Speedrunning, Nintendo, Charity Gaming, Community Events
Original article: Eurogamer