Nintendo's May 2025 Policy Updates: Difference between revisions

On '''May 8th, 2025''' (with changes generally effective '''May 7th-8th, 2025'''<ref name="GameFileEffectiveDate">{{Cite news |last=Totilo |first=Stephen |date=May 8, 2025 |title=Nintendo warns it may brick Switch systems whose users “bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with” their games and services |url=https://www.gamefile.news/p/nintendo-emulation-hacking-brick-warning-terms-of-service |access-date=May 15, 2025 |work=Game File}}</ref><ref name="IGNBrickingMay2025">{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Vikki |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo Revises User Agreement, And If You Break It, Nintendo Reserves The Right to Brick Your Switch |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-revises-user-agreement-and-if-you-break-it-nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-switch |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref>), [[Nintendo]] released significant updates to its [[Nintendo]] Account User Agreement<ref name="EULAMain">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Account User Agreement |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/eula/US?lang=en-US |website=Nintendo Accounts |access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref> and Privacy Policy.<ref name="PrivacyPolicyMain">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Privacy Policy |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/privacy_policy/US?lang=en-US |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Nintendo Accounts}}</ref><ref name="PrivacyPolicySummaryChanges">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Privacy Policy - What's Changed? |url=https://www.nintendo.com/us/privacy-policy/whats-changed/ |website=Nintendo |access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref> These revisions introduced new terms with the potential to severely impact consumers. Key changes include:

* Updates to '''Section 6 (User-Generated Content)''' of the EULA, now requiring adherence to Nintendo's specific content guidelines.

* New provisions in '''Section 13 (Breach and Termination of the Agreement)''' of the EULA, where Nintendo reserves the right in some regions (notably the US) to "render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part."<ref name="EULASummaryChanges">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Account User Agreement - What's Changed? |url=https://www.nintendo.com/us/eula-update/ |website=Nintendo |access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>

* Significant changes to '''Section 16 (Dispute Resolution)''' of the EULA, mandating [[forced arbitration]] and including a class-action waiver, though with an opt-out provision.<ref name="EULASummaryChanges"/> (Previously, this article incorrectly cited Section 1 for arbitration).

[[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]], users attempting to share footage of their games 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 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.<ref name="ArsAdRevenue2015" />

The enforcement of these policies has also seen the closure of Tournaments,<ref name="ArsSmashTournaments2013">{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jul 11, 2013 |title=Why Nintendo can legally shut down any Smash Bros. tournament it wants |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/07/why-nintendo-can-legally-shut-down-any-smash-bros-tournament-it-wants/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> lawsuits against competing studios,the persistent war on emulation,and more. Due to how far Nintendo has historically aimed to enforce its policies, it is reasonable to expect these May 2025 policy updates to be similarly enforced.

==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.

Nintendo account holders were notified of these policy changes via email. The email generally stated that continued use of Nintendo Account Services would constitute agreement to the new terms, and the primary way to decline was to cancel the Nintendo Account.

A transcript of a version of this email is provided below:

<blockquote>We're writing to let you know that we've updated the Nintendo Account User Agreement and Nintendo Privacy Policy, If you or any users under your Nintendo Account continue to use any Nintendo Account Services, including by keeping your or their Nintendo Account open, then you affirm you agree to the updated Nintendo Account User Agreement and acknowledge you have read the updated Nintendo Privacy Policy on your and their behalf. If You do not agree to the changes, you must cancel your Nintendo Account immediately.

Feel free to contact us with any questions.</blockquote>

<gallery>

File:NintendoEmailNA.jpg|Email from Nintendo of America informing consumers of the May 2025 policy changes.

====Nintendo Account User Agreement (EULA)====

* '''Section 2 (License):''' The terms emphasize that Nintendo Account Services are licensed, not sold, to users, and include additional restrictions on their use.<ref name="EULASummaryChanges"/>

* '''Section 6 (User-Generated Content):''' This section was updated to require users to adhere to the '''"Nintendo Game Content Guidelines for Online Video & Image Sharing Platforms."'''<ref name="EULASummaryChanges"/>

** The latest publicly available version of these guidelines (as of May 2025 research) was last updated on September 2, 2024.<ref name="NintendoContentGuidelines">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Game Content Guidelines for Online Video & Image Sharing Platforms |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/networkservice_guideline/en/index.html |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Nintendo Co., Ltd.}}</ref>

** These guidelines generally require users to add their own creative input and commentary to shared gameplay footage, rather than simply re-uploading existing Nintendo videos or gameplay without original content. They also prohibit users from implying any official affiliation with or sponsorship by Nintendo. Monetization is restricted to specific methods approved by Nintendo (e.g., YouTube Partner Program, Twitch Affiliate Program).<ref name="NintendoContentGuidelines"/>

* '''Section 13 (Breach and Termination of the Agreement - Consequences of Non-Compliance):''' This section details Nintendo's rights if users fail to comply with restrictions.

** For users under the Nintendo of America EULA, a key provision states: <blockquote>"Without limitation, you agree that you may not (a) publish, copy, modify, reverse engineer, lease, rent, decompile, disassemble, distribute, offer for sale, or create derivative works of any portion of the Nintendo Account Services; (b) bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent any of the [functions or protections of the Nintendo Account Services]. '''You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with the foregoing restrictions Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part.'''"</blockquote><ref name="GamesIndustryBrickingQuote">{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Vikki |date=May 12, 2025 |title=Switch consoles can be made "permanently unusable" if Nintendo thinks a player has broken new user agreement |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/switch-consoles-can-be-made-permanently-unusable-if-nintendo-thinks-a-player-has-broken-new-user-agreement |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref> This was also reported by GameSpot,<ref name="GameSpotBrickingQuote">{{Cite web |last=Bonthuys |first=Darryn |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Breaking This New Nintendo Clause Could Make Your Switch 2 "Unusable" |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/breaking-this-new-nintendo-clause-could-make-your-switch-2-unusable/1100-6531421/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=GameSpot}}</ref> HotHardware,<ref name="HotHardwareBrickingQuote">{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2025 |title=Nintendo Can Brick Your Switch And Skirt Lawsuits In Outrageous EULA Update |url=https://hothardware.com/news/nintendo-eula-update-brick-consoles-arbitration |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=HotHardware}}</ref> and AS USA.<ref name="ASUSABrickingQuote">{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo can disable your Switch 2 for piracy in the U.S., but not in Europe, as confirmed by its EULA |url=https://en.as.com/meristation/news/nintendo-can-disable-your-switch-2-for-piracy-in-the-us-but-not-in-europe-as-confirmed-by-its-eula-n/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=AS USA Meristation}}</ref> This has been widely interpreted by media and consumers as Nintendo reserving the right to "brick" consoles.

** '''Regional Variation (Europe/UK):''' The Nintendo of Europe (NOE) EULA uses different language: <blockquote>"Such unauthorised use of a Digital Product may result in the '''Digital Product becoming unusable.'''"</blockquote><ref name="ASUSABrickingQuote"/> This focuses on the digital product, not necessarily rendering the entire device unusable.

* '''Section 16 (Dispute Resolution - Mandatory Arbitration):''' This section was significantly updated.<ref name="EULASummaryChanges"/>

** It mandates '''binding, individual arbitration''' for most disputes and includes a '''waiver of the right to sue in court or participate in class-action lawsuits'''. A widely reported quote from this section is: <blockquote>"THIS ARBITRATION PROVISION PRECLUDES YOU AND NINTENDO FROM SUING IN COURT, HAVING A TRIAL BY JURY, OR PARTICIPATING IN A CLASS ACTION."</blockquote><ref name="ZeldaDungeonArbitration">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Rod |display-authors=etal |date=May 11, 2025 |title=Nintendo's Controversial User Agreement Update Combats Piracy and Class Actions, but the Changes Are Nothing New |url=https://www.zeldadungeon.net/nintendos-controversial-user-agreement-update-combats-piracy-and-class-actions-but-the-changes-are-nothing-new/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Zelda Dungeon}}</ref>

** '''Opt-Out Provision:''' Users in North America were given a '''30-day window''' from accepting the new terms to opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending a physical letter with specified information (including full name, address, phone number, and email associated with the Nintendo Account) to: Nintendo of America Inc., Attn: CS Admin, 4600 150th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052.<ref name="ZeldaDungeonArbitration"/><ref name="HotHardwareBrickingQuote"/>

This reference for the Android Authority article was included in the original wiki source's placeholder section:<ref name="McNealAA2025">{{Cite web |last=McNeal |first=Ryan |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo warns it may brick your Switch if you engage in unauthorized use |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/nintendo-user-agreement-update-3556245/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Android Authority}}</ref>

There has been significant consumer backlash over the changes to these terms, often leading many to expect that Nintendo is attempting to reserve their right to 'brick' consoles owned by consumers 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> 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 many outlets 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. Many analysts linked these stricter terms to Nintendo's preparations for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console, aiming to bolster anti-piracy measures and control over its platform.