Nintendo's May 2025 Policy Updates: Difference between revisions

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==Background==

[[Nintendo]] has historically been known to be restrictive with how the company has enforced its policies. During the time the company supported the [[Wii U]] throughout the 2010s, users attempting to share footage of their games on platforms, such as [[YouTube]], were at risk of having said content taken down,<ref name="IGNLetsPlays2013">{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Keza |date=May 16, 2013 |title=Nintendo Enforces Copyright on Youtube Let's Plays |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/16/nintendo-enforces-copyright-on-youtube-lets-plays |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref><ref name="ArsLivestreams2017">{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Oct 2, 2017 |title=Nintendo no longer welcoming YouTube livestreams of its games |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/nintendo-cuts-off-ad-program-for-youtube-livestreamers/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> later requiring consumers to join an affiliate program<ref name="IGNAffiliate2015">{{Cite web |last=Pitcher |first=Jenna |date=Jan 29, 2015 |title=Nintendo Rolls Out Beta Affiliate Program for YouTube Creators |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/29/nintendo-rolls-out-beta-affiliate-program-for-youtube-creators |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> that continues to exist today. The [[Nintendo Creators Program]] claimed a significant portion of the video's ad revenue ''(Nintendo's share was reported to be 30-40% for the creator, meaning Nintendo took 60-70% initially, though terms later allowed up to 70% for creators)'',<ref name="ArsAdRevenue2015">{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jan 29, 2015 |title=Nintendo to share up to 70 percent of ad revenue with game YouTubers |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/nintendo-to-share-up-to-70-percent-of-ad-revenue-with-game-youtubers/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> and restricting content critical of Nintendo or its IP.<!--Find a way to wedge in the fact that they were originally requiring videos on Nintendo products to EXCLUSIVELY advertise Nintendo products, while also claiming all advertising revenue from a video initially.

[[Nintendo]] has historically been known to be restrictive with how the company has enforced its policies. During the time the company supported the Wii U throughout the 2010s, users attempting to share footage of their games on platforms, such as [[YouTube]], were at risk of having said content taken down,<ref name="IGNLetsPlays2013">{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Keza |date=May 16, 2013 |title=Nintendo Enforces Copyright on Youtube Let's Plays |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/16/nintendo-enforces-copyright-on-youtube-lets-plays |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref><ref name="ArsLivestreams2017">{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Oct 2, 2017 |title=Nintendo no longer welcoming YouTube livestreams of its games |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/nintendo-cuts-off-ad-program-for-youtube-livestreamers/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> later requiring consumers to join an affiliate program<ref name="IGNAffiliate2015">{{Cite web |last=Pitcher |first=Jenna |date=Jan 29, 2015 |title=Nintendo Rolls Out Beta Affiliate Program for YouTube Creators |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/29/nintendo-rolls-out-beta-affiliate-program-for-youtube-creators |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> that continues to exist today. The Nintendo Creators Program claimed a significant portion of the video's ad revenue ''(Nintendo's share was reported to be 30-40% for the creator, meaning Nintendo took 60-70% initially, though terms later allowed up to 70% for creators)'',<ref name="ArsAdRevenue2015">{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jan 29, 2015 |title=Nintendo to share up to 70 percent of ad revenue with game YouTubers |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/nintendo-to-share-up-to-70-percent-of-ad-revenue-with-game-youtubers/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> and restricting content critical of Nintendo or its IP.<!--Find a way to wedge in the fact that they were originally requiring videos on Nintendo products to EXCLUSIVELY advertise Nintendo products, while also claiming all advertising revenue from a video initially.

Sources I linked already mention this fact, so no need to worry so much about the validity of this info.

- JamesTDG (restored from a previous revision)

Line 17:

Makes sense - in that case, might be more suitable for the overall Nintendo article? -Keith -->

==The ~~Updates~~: May 2025==

==The updates: May 2025==

In early May 2025, Nintendo published these updates to the [[Nintendo]] Account User Agreement<ref name="EULAMain" /> and Privacy Policy.<ref name="PrivacyPolicyMain" /> The changes significantly affect consumer rights concerning products they use and their legal recourse against the company.

Line 62:

==Consumer response==

There has been significant consumer backlash over the changes to these terms, leading many to expect that Nintendo is trying to reserve their right to 'brick' customer's consoles as a measure of policy enforcement,<ref name="RunNGameYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Run N Game Entertainment |date=May 13, 2025 |title=Is Nintendo breaking the law? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOiD-lvaok |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="FashoKangYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Fasho |first=Kang |date=May 11, 2025 |title=The Switch 2 will RUIN Gaming [Full Controversy Explained] (Angry Rant) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P8Pv97mt8U |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="NintenDeenYouTube">{{Cite web |last=NintenDeen |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Console Bans |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1H6cKTNxKM |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="PsybeamYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Psybeam |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo Can Now Permanently Disable Your Switch If You're Found Modding |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG7LoNJcpw8 |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> despite the fact that intentionally rendering a device inoperable would be a violation of consumer protection laws within the United States and European Union. This however does not mean [[Nintendo]] cannot hinge the functionality of the device's software excessively on an online connection to their servers, meaning a ban could render a console functionally useless.

There has been significant consumer backlash over the changes to these terms, leading many to expect that Nintendo is trying to reserve their right to 'brick' customer's consoles as a measure of policy enforcement,<ref name="RunNGameYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Run N Game Entertainment |date=May 13, 2025 |title=Is Nintendo breaking the law? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOiD-lvaok |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="FashoKangYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Fasho |first=Kang |date=May 11, 2025 |title=The Switch 2 will RUIN Gaming [Full Controversy Explained] (Angry Rant) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P8Pv97mt8U |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="NintenDeenYouTube">{{Cite web |last=NintenDeen |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Console Bans |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1H6cKTNxKM |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="PsybeamYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Psybeam |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo Can Now Permanently Disable Your Switch If You're Found Modding |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG7LoNJcpw8 |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> despite the fact that intentionally rendering a device inoperable would be a violation of consumer protection laws within the United States and European Union. This however does not mean [[Nintendo]] cannot hinge the functionality of the device's software excessively on an online connection to their servers, meaning a ban could render a console functionally useless by restricting access to game patches (which are only installable through a connection to Nintendo's servers, there is no offline patch functionality).

Concerns were widely reported by major gaming publications. Eurogamer<ref name="EurogamerBricking2025">{{Cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo reserves the right to brick your console following "unauthorised use", in bid to prevent piracy |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-console-following-unauthorised-use-in-bid-to-prevent-piracy |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref> and Game File<ref name="GameFileEffectiveDate" /> were among the outlets<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCrae |first=Scott |date=8 May 2025 |title=New Nintendo of America policy asks users to give up their rights to a class-action lawsuit and call customer service instead: "Most matters can be quickly resolved in this manner" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/nintendo/new-nintendo-of-america-policy-asks-users-to-give-up-their-rights-to-a-class-action-lawsuit-and-call-customer-service-instead-most-matters-can-be-quickly-resolved-in-this-manner/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=GamesRadar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=10 May 2025 |title=PC gaming remains undefeated: Nintendo now says it has the right to brick your Switch if it thinks you're pirating games or modifying the console |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/pc-gaming-remains-undefeated-nintendo-now-says-it-has-the-right-to-brick-your-switch-if-it-thinks-youre-pirating-games-or-modifying-the-console/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 May 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref> covering these details. Other publications like IGN,<ref name="IGNBrickingMay2025" /> GameSpot,<ref name="GameSpotBrickingQuote" /> TechRadar,<ref name="TechRadarBricking2025">{{Cite web |last=Publisher |first=Future |date=May 12, 2025 |title=Nintendo now says it can disable your Switch or potentially even your new Switch 2 if you don't follow its user agreement |url=https://www.techradar.com/gaming/nintendo-now-says-it-can-disable-your-switch-or-potentially-even-your-new-switch-2-if-you-dont-follow-its-user-agreement |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=TechRadar}}</ref> GamesIndustry.biz,<ref name="GamesIndustryBrickingQuote" /> and Android Authority<ref name="McNealAA2025" /> also provided analysis and reported on user concerns.

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==References==

[[Category:Forced Arbitration]]

[[Category:End-user license agreements]]

[[Category:Incidents]]

[[Category:Nintendo]]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ==Background==
-[[Nintendo]] has historically been known to be restrictive with how the company has enforced its policies. During the time the company supported the [[Wii U]] throughout the 2010s, users attempting to share footage of their games on platforms, such as [[YouTube]], were at risk of having said content taken down,<ref name="IGNLetsPlays2013">{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Keza |date=May 16, 2013 |title=Nintendo Enforces Copyright on Youtube Let's Plays |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/16/nintendo-enforces-copyright-on-youtube-lets-plays |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref><ref name="ArsLivestreams2017">{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Oct 2, 2017 |title=Nintendo no longer welcoming YouTube livestreams of its games |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/nintendo-cuts-off-ad-program-for-youtube-livestreamers/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> later requiring consumers to join an affiliate program<ref name="IGNAffiliate2015">{{Cite web |last=Pitcher |first=Jenna |date=Jan 29, 2015 |title=Nintendo Rolls Out Beta Affiliate Program for YouTube Creators |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/29/nintendo-rolls-out-beta-affiliate-program-for-youtube-creators |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> that continues to exist today. The [[Nintendo Creators Program]] claimed a significant portion of the video's ad revenue ''(Nintendo's share was reported to be 30-40% for the creator, meaning Nintendo took 60-70% initially, though terms later allowed up to 70% for creators)'',<ref name="ArsAdRevenue2015">{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jan 29, 2015 |title=Nintendo to share up to 70 percent of ad revenue with game YouTubers |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/nintendo-to-share-up-to-70-percent-of-ad-revenue-with-game-youtubers/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> and restricting content critical of Nintendo or its IP.<!--Find a way to wedge in the fact that they were originally requiring videos on Nintendo products to EXCLUSIVELY advertise Nintendo products, while also claiming all advertising revenue from a video initially.
+[[Nintendo]] has historically been known to be restrictive with how the company has enforced its policies. During the time the company supported the Wii U throughout the 2010s, users attempting to share footage of their games on platforms, such as [[YouTube]], were at risk of having said content taken down,<ref name="IGNLetsPlays2013">{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Keza |date=May 16, 2013 |title=Nintendo Enforces Copyright on Youtube Let's Plays |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/16/nintendo-enforces-copyright-on-youtube-lets-plays |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref><ref name="ArsLivestreams2017">{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Oct 2, 2017 |title=Nintendo no longer welcoming YouTube livestreams of its games |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/nintendo-cuts-off-ad-program-for-youtube-livestreamers/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> later requiring consumers to join an affiliate program<ref name="IGNAffiliate2015">{{Cite web |last=Pitcher |first=Jenna |date=Jan 29, 2015 |title=Nintendo Rolls Out Beta Affiliate Program for YouTube Creators |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/29/nintendo-rolls-out-beta-affiliate-program-for-youtube-creators |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> that continues to exist today. The Nintendo Creators Program claimed a significant portion of the video's ad revenue ''(Nintendo's share was reported to be 30-40% for the creator, meaning Nintendo took 60-70% initially, though terms later allowed up to 70% for creators)'',<ref name="ArsAdRevenue2015">{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jan 29, 2015 |title=Nintendo to share up to 70 percent of ad revenue with game YouTubers |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/01/nintendo-to-share-up-to-70-percent-of-ad-revenue-with-game-youtubers/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> and restricting content critical of Nintendo or its IP.<!--Find a way to wedge in the fact that they were originally requiring videos on Nintendo products to EXCLUSIVELY advertise Nintendo products, while also claiming all advertising revenue from a video initially.
 Sources I linked already mention this fact, so no need to worry so much about the validity of this info.
 - JamesTDG (restored from a previous revision)
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 Makes sense - in that case, might be more suitable for the overall Nintendo article? -Keith -->
-==The Updates: May 2025==
+==The updates: May 2025==
 In early May 2025, Nintendo published these updates to the [[Nintendo]] Account User Agreement<ref name="EULAMain" /> and Privacy Policy.<ref name="PrivacyPolicyMain" /> The changes significantly affect consumer rights concerning products they use and their legal recourse against the company.
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 ==Consumer response==
-There has been significant consumer backlash over the changes to these terms, leading many to expect that Nintendo is trying to reserve their right to 'brick' customer's consoles as a measure of policy enforcement,<ref name="RunNGameYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Run N Game Entertainment |date=May 13, 2025 |title=Is Nintendo breaking the law? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOiD-lvaok |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="FashoKangYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Fasho |first=Kang |date=May 11, 2025 |title=The Switch 2 will RUIN Gaming [Full Controversy Explained] (Angry Rant) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P8Pv97mt8U |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="NintenDeenYouTube">{{Cite web |last=NintenDeen |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Console Bans |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1H6cKTNxKM |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="PsybeamYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Psybeam |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo Can Now Permanently Disable Your Switch If You're Found Modding |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG7LoNJcpw8 |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> despite the fact that intentionally rendering a device inoperable would be a violation of consumer protection laws within the United States and European Union. This however does not mean [[Nintendo]] cannot hinge the functionality of the device's software excessively on an online connection to their servers, meaning a ban could render a console functionally useless.
+There has been significant consumer backlash over the changes to these terms, leading many to expect that Nintendo is trying to reserve their right to 'brick' customer's consoles as a measure of policy enforcement,<ref name="RunNGameYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Run N Game Entertainment |date=May 13, 2025 |title=Is Nintendo breaking the law? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOiD-lvaok |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="FashoKangYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Fasho |first=Kang |date=May 11, 2025 |title=The Switch 2 will RUIN Gaming [Full Controversy Explained] (Angry Rant) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P8Pv97mt8U |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="NintenDeenYouTube">{{Cite web |last=NintenDeen |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Console Bans |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1H6cKTNxKM |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="PsybeamYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Psybeam |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo Can Now Permanently Disable Your Switch If You're Found Modding |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG7LoNJcpw8 |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> despite the fact that intentionally rendering a device inoperable would be a violation of consumer protection laws within the United States and European Union. This however does not mean [[Nintendo]] cannot hinge the functionality of the device's software excessively on an online connection to their servers, meaning a ban could render a console functionally useless by restricting access to game patches (which are only installable through a connection to Nintendo's servers, there is no offline patch functionality).
 Concerns were widely reported by major gaming publications. Eurogamer<ref name="EurogamerBricking2025">{{Cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo reserves the right to brick your console following "unauthorised use", in bid to prevent piracy |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-console-following-unauthorised-use-in-bid-to-prevent-piracy |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref> and Game File<ref name="GameFileEffectiveDate" /> were among the outlets<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCrae |first=Scott |date=8 May 2025 |title=New Nintendo of America policy asks users to give up their rights to a class-action lawsuit and call customer service instead: "Most matters can be quickly resolved in this manner" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/nintendo/new-nintendo-of-america-policy-asks-users-to-give-up-their-rights-to-a-class-action-lawsuit-and-call-customer-service-instead-most-matters-can-be-quickly-resolved-in-this-manner/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=GamesRadar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=10 May 2025 |title=PC gaming remains undefeated: Nintendo now says it has the right to brick your Switch if it thinks you're pirating games or modifying the console |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/pc-gaming-remains-undefeated-nintendo-now-says-it-has-the-right-to-brick-your-switch-if-it-thinks-youre-pirating-games-or-modifying-the-console/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 May 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref> covering these details. Other publications like IGN,<ref name="IGNBrickingMay2025" /> GameSpot,<ref name="GameSpotBrickingQuote" /> TechRadar,<ref name="TechRadarBricking2025">{{Cite web |last=Publisher |first=Future |date=May 12, 2025 |title=Nintendo now says it can disable your Switch or potentially even your new Switch 2 if you don't follow its user agreement |url=https://www.techradar.com/gaming/nintendo-now-says-it-can-disable-your-switch-or-potentially-even-your-new-switch-2-if-you-dont-follow-its-user-agreement |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=TechRadar}}</ref> GamesIndustry.biz,<ref name="GamesIndustryBrickingQuote" /> and Android Authority<ref name="McNealAA2025" /> also provided analysis and reported on user concerns.
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
+[[Category:Forced Arbitration]]
+[[Category:End-user license agreements]]
 [[Category:Incidents]]
 [[Category:Nintendo]]