Nintendo is planning to take action against the inappropriate use of its characters that may make fans feel uneasy.
During a recent shareholder meeting (as reported by Eurogamer), Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, was asked about addressing “cases on social media where Nintendo IP and games are used inappropriately,” which the shareholder believed “poses the risk of damaging the value of Nintendo IP.”
While no specific examples were mentioned by the shareholder or Furukawa, it is likely they were referring to content created by fans that may be deemed inappropriate. In the past, Nintendo has made it clear that certain fan-made creations, such as the character Bowsette, will not become official canon. However, the company has not previously commented on the NSFW fan-made content based on Nintendo characters that has been circulating online.
“Our company’s goal is to bring joy through entertainment by offering unique games that can be enjoyed by anyone,” Furukawa stated. “While I will not address individual cases, we believe that appropriate measures should be taken against any actions that go against this goal.”
Although the specific actions that Furukawa is referring to remain unclear, Nintendo is known for being strict in protecting its intellectual property through copyright enforcement.
“Our aim is to create an environment where everyone can enjoy gaming. We will continue to work towards ensuring that our consumers feel comfortable, not only within our games but also in any interactions with our IP,” Furukawa added.
This vague warning from Furukawa may not deter the inappropriate content created by some fans in Nintendo’s community, and it may further distinguish between fan-made characters and official Nintendo creations.
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