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Nintendo issues a warning to a Japanese speedrun charity to remove their games

Nintendo has issued a warning to Japanese charity speedrun event RTA in Japan, forcing the removal of all Nintendo games from its Summer 2025 lineup.
posted by Shreya Ghosh
Tuesday 8/5/2025 at 8:20PM EDT
  • Nintendo (Image via Getty)
    Nintendo (Image via Getty)

    In a move that has sparked widespread reaction across the gaming community, Nintendo has issued a formal request to a major Japanese speedrunning charity event to remove all of its titles from the event's schedule. 

    The concerned team cited unauthorized use of its intellectual property as the reason. As a result, the 2025 Summer edition of RTA in Japan, one of the country's most prominent charity speedrun events, will proceed without any Nintendo-owned games, including legacy titles.

    The country's biggest charity speedrunning event had fans eagerly awaiting its Summer 2025 edition. Scheduled from August 9 to 15, as Dexerto reported, the marathon unveiled its fascinating lineup back in June. 

    Back then, it generated excitement across the gaming community. Known for its high-speed gameplay and charitable goals, the event traditionally features a wide variety of titles, including many beloved Nintendo games. However, this year's anticipation took a hit after Nintendo requested the removal of all its first-party titles, leaving fans disappointed and organizers scrambling.

    Everything we know about Nintendo warning the Japanese speedrun charity

    According to organizers, Nintendo delivered notice on June 13, stating that because RTA in Japan operates as a legal entity, it must obtain explicit permission in advance to feature any Nintendo games at future events, as Gaming Amigos reported. Past appearances of such titles were considered non-compliant

    Despite being a non-profit event that directs proceeds to charity, it is still subject to licensing laws. This legal obligation means that the organization must obtain explicit permission to showcase copyrighted games. 

    Following Nintendo's takedown request, RiJ has initiated conversations with the company in hopes of securing approval for future marathons. Their strategy moving forward involves applying for licenses for each event on a per-title basis, as per Gaming Amigos. However, they could not finalize these permissions ahead of the 2025 summer event. Ultimately, it forced them to remove all Nintendo titles from the current game lineup.

    The conclusion prompts a significant issue for both the 2025 summer marathon and the upcoming games. According to the outlet, it will affect the procedure of future game submissions. Organizers have acknowledged the need to adapt and confirmed that new submission guidelines will be released soon. The aim is to ensure full compliance with Nintendo's licensing policies, providing more clarity to both runners and fans. 

    Gaming Amigos translated the official statement via Automaton, where RiJ can be seen being disappointed and regretful. The team reflected on the conclusion and emphasized their commitment to resolving the issue.

    As for the future of iconic titles like Mario, Zelda, and others, their return to the event remains unconfirmed. It will depend heavily on the outcome of ongoing discussions with Nintendo. The organizers remain hopeful, but until a clear licensing framework is established, the inclusion of these fan-favorite franchises is uncertain.

    For now, the event will proceed without any Nintendo presence, prompting some within the community to voice disappointment, while others defend the company's legal right to protect its IP. Some have noted that this may set a new precedent for how fan-driven charity streams operate in the future, especially within jurisdictions with stricter copyright enforcement.

    In the meantime, speedrunners and fans are adapting their plans, with many shifting focus to titles from publishers that have historically shown greater flexibility. Developers like Capcom, Sega, and indie studios are expected to fill the gap left by Nintendo in the 2025 Summer RTA in Japan lineup.

    In the meantime, speedrunners and fans are adapting their plans, with many shifting focus to titles from publishers that have historically shown greater flexibility. Several developers are expected to fill the gap left by Nintendo in the 2025 Summer RTA in Japan lineup.

    The removal of Nintendo titles from one of Japan's largest speedrunning events underscores the company's evolving yet controversial approach to content control and IP management.

    Fans reacted with disappointment and frustration following the removal of Nintendo titles from the RTA in Japan Summer 2025 event lineup. Netizens voiced concern over Nintendo's ongoing pattern of strict enforcement, particularly in non-profit, charity contexts on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit platforms. Many users have also expressed sympathy for the organizers and runners who had prepared extensively for Nintendo game runs, only to have them abruptly canceled.

    TOPICS: Nintendo, speedrun


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