Nintendo's recently revised Content Guidelines have significantly tightened restrictions on creators sharing Nintendo-related content online. These stricter rules, implemented in early September, carry severe penalties, potentially leading to permanent bans from all Nintendo-related content creation and sharing.
Nintendo's updated "Game Content Guidelines for Online Video & Image Sharing Platforms" broaden their enforcement powers. Beyond DMCA takedowns for infringing content, Nintendo can now proactively remove content violating their guidelines and restrict creators from further sharing Nintendo game content. This represents a significant shift from their previous policy, which only addressed content deemed "unlawful, infringing, or inappropriate." Violation now risks a complete ban from creating and sharing Nintendo-related material.
The revised guidelines offer clearer examples of prohibited content. Two notable additions include content depicting actions that negatively impact multiplayer gameplay (e.g., intentional disruption) and content featuring graphic, explicit, harmful, or offensive material.
This stricter approach follows reported takedown incidents, with speculation linking the changes to a recent controversy involving a Splatoon 3 content creator. Specifically, a video by Liora Channel, featuring interviews with female players discussing dating experiences within the game, was removed by Nintendo. Liora Channel subsequently pledged to avoid creating sexually suggestive Nintendo-related content.
The increased scrutiny reflects concerns about predatory behavior in online gaming, particularly concerning younger players. The potential for harm associated with promoting sexual encounters within games aimed at a younger audience is a significant factor. This is underscored by reports, such as those from Bloomberg, detailing incidents of abuse and grooming within online gaming platforms like Roblox. Given the influence of content creators, Nintendo aims to prevent its games from being associated with such harmful activities to ensure the safety of its younger audience. The updated guidelines aim to achieve this by setting clearer boundaries and enforcing stricter penalties for violations.
