Nintendo’s recent release of strict new community tournament guidelines has sent shockwaves through the Super Smash Bros. fanbase. The updated rules, published by Nintendo UK and Nintendo Japan, have the potential to severely limit the operations of local organizers and competitors, leading to concerns for the future of the unofficial competitive scene.
While Nintendo of America has not yet released similar guidelines, the changes proposed by Nintendo Europe and Nintendo Japan have raised significant alarm among Smash Bros. enthusiasts. The new community guidelines introduce strict limits on the number of participants, the cost of entry fees, and the prize money that can be won. Additionally, the rules explicitly forbid the use of pirated or modified software, which may impact popular mods like Project M and Project+. Furthermore, any online components of tournaments must utilize Nintendo’s official servers, effectively rendering online Melee tournaments obsolete. Sponsors are also prohibited from Nintendo Europe and Nintendo Japan’s new tournament rules.
In a somewhat baffling move, Nintendo has even gone so far as to prohibit the sale of food, beverages, or merchandise at these local events. Many fans wonder if a Smash Bros. tournament without the familiar aroma of pizza and Mountain Dew is even a true tournament.
One of the guidelines that has raised some eyebrows states that tournaments cannot involve anything that Nintendo deems inappropriate. This raises concerns for organizers, as the definition of inappropriate remains unclear. If something as innocuous as serving refreshments falls under this umbrella, what else might organizers be penalized for?
The Smash Bros. community’s response has been a mix of panic and defiance. Some fans, while worried about the impact of these guidelines, remain hopeful for the future of the competitive scene. They believe that the vibrant Smash community has weathered similar challenges in the past and will find ways to adapt and persevere.
Others predict that these guidelines will merely serve as a temporary obstacle. They anticipate that Nintendo will initially attempt to enforce the rules, potentially disrupting a few tournaments, but will ultimately back down, just as they did when trying to crack down on Slippi-run tournaments.
Although the new guidelines apply to all competitive Nintendo games, their potential impact on the Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament scene is particularly concerning. Without official support for online play, online Melee tournaments appear to be a thing of the past. Twitter user DarkGenex also points out that Nintendo of Japan’s website currently does not allow organizers to apply for licenses to run games that are not on the Switch console. This raises the alarming possibility that Smash Bros. Melee tournaments may be completely ruled out in the future.
It is important to note that the restriction on license applications applies to larger events, which require a license for 200 offline contestants or 300 online players. While the license application process seems to be limited to Japan for now, the nearly identical rules put forth by Nintendo of Europe suggest troubling implications for the future of Melee tournaments.
The response to these guidelines has garnered attention from the community, prompting inquiries for clarification from Nintendo. The impact on the highly dedicated and passionate Super Smash Bros. Melee competitive scene remains uncertain. Only time will tell how these new guidelines will shape the future of the tournament landscape.
