Nintendo Content Guidelines Threatens to Ban Creators Over Stricter Rules

Nintendo's stricter Content Guidelines: A crackdown on creators?

Nintendo recently updated its Content Guidelines, implementing stricter rules for online content creators featuring their games. These changes carry significant consequences, potentially leading to bans from sharing any Nintendo-related content.

Nintendo's Expanded Enforcement

The updated "Game Content Guidelines for Online Video & Image Sharing Platforms," effective September 2nd, allow Nintendo to proactively remove content violating these guidelines, and even ban creators from future content sharing. This is a significant escalation from previous policies, which primarily focused on removing only "unlawful, infringing, or inappropriate" content.

New Prohibited Content Examples

The revised guidelines clarify prohibited content, adding key examples:

• Content that disrupts multiplayer gameplay (e.g., intentional sabotage).
• Content containing graphic, explicit, harmful, or offensive material.

The Splatoon 3 Incident

The stricter guidelines follow reported content takedowns, notably a Splatoon 3 video by Liora Channel. This video, featuring interviews with female players discussing dating within the game, was removed by Nintendo. Liora Channel subsequently pledged to avoid sexually suggestive Nintendo-related content.

Protecting Young Players

Nintendo's actions are likely a response to concerns about predatory behavior in online games, particularly those targeting younger audiences. Examples like reported incidents of abuse in Roblox highlight the potential risks. By tightening guidelines, Nintendo aims to prevent its games from being associated with harmful activities. The influence of content creators necessitates this proactive approach to safeguarding young players.