Nintendo Is Changing Rules for Content Creators

Nintendo is known for their vast library of classic video games. What they're not known for, is being awfully understanding of people who love their games and make videos about them.

Since gameplay videos don't fall under the same protection as criticism and commentary, they have spent years claiming hundreds of videos, which means that the ad revenue from those videos is now theirs.

Some critique videos have also got falsely claimed now and then, but videos that don't contain a lot of uninterrupted cutscenes or music are typically fine, even Nintendo acknowledges that. Nonetheless, this volatile environment pushed a lot of people away from making content based on any Nintendo property.

It seems like this course of action is not about to change any time soom. The most recent update to Nintendo's content guidelines remains to be exceedingly vague, as they reserve the right to "object to any content that we believe is unlawful, infringing, inappropriate, or not in line with the Guideline."

You're also not allowed to monetize your content in any way that Nintendo does not allow, which is limited to direct sources tied to platforms they list.

The same restrictions apply to footage from something like a Smash Bros. tournament for example, in addition to following the community tournament guidelines.

Most weirdly, the "unlawful, infringing, or inappropriate" content even covers something as strange and vague as "Involves actions that may be considered to impair the gameplay experience in multiplayer modes, such as intentionally disrupting game progress." So make sure not to grief by accident in Nintendo games?

To what extent this will be enfored remains to be seen, but Nintendo definitely just made making content for their games less simple.