Nintendo has recently intervened to prevent its titles from being featured in the RTA charity speedrunning event that has been ongoing since 2014. In a recent communication, Nintendo informed organizers that prior permission is required for their games to be used, retroactively classifying the previous years’ usage as unauthorized.

With the next event approaching in August, RTA organizers are now excluded from using Nintendo’s games this time around—an impactful decision given the central role of titles like Super Mario 64 in the speedrunning community.

While they have started discussions with Nintendo for future permissions, the speedrunning community is left to navigate the shifting landscape of copyright laws in Japan, where stricter measures are often seen in comparison to other regions. This change raises questions about the balance between intellectual property rights and the promotion of charitable endeavors in gaming.