Twitch streamers currently playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity are getting a surprise reminder of just how strict Nintendo can be with its intellectual property rights. Nintendo has sent takedown notices to countless fan games and projects over the years, resulting in plenty of ire from fans of the company.
Nintendo has also been notoriously strict when it comes to content creators producing content and earning revenue from Nintendo games. Today, Twitch streamers playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity are receiving DMCA takedowns from Nintendo after streaming the game before its US release date.
For those who haven’t been following Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity too closely, the game officially releases in North America on November 20. However, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is officially out in regions like Australia, Europe and Japan at the time of writing this piece. Despite the fact that the game has already been officially released for multiple hours in select regions, some Twitch streamers have had their accounts suspended by streaming Age of Calamity today. Twitch Partner Linkus7 and even Nintendo Brand Ambassador MissKyliee are among the numerous streamers who have received DMCA takedowns from Nintendo for this reason.
Apparently, streamers who streamed Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity ahead of the US release have received an automated email from Twitch detailing the situation. The emails notify the recipient that Twitch received notice of copyright infringement, links to the specific channel or VOD, and lists Nintendo as the copyright claimant. So far, dozens of streamers have reported getting DMCA takedowns from Nintendo on Twitter. What makes the issue all the more confusing is that some of the streamers issued with DMCA takedown notices and copyright strikes legally purchased the game in their region, but simply streamed it ahead of the US release date.
Linkus7 took to Twitter after getting a takedown notice to further explain the situation saying, “Update: Just got a DM showing a Japanese streamer getting banned from this as well on Twitch, and the game has legally been out there for 8 hours. This has to be a mistake?” Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any official confirmation on whether or not this a mistake on Nintendo’s end as of yet. Regardless, it seems strange that Nintendo would issue takedown notices to players who legally purchased Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity from the Nintendo eShop. Still, Nintendo has never been shy about issue copyright takedowns to content creators using Nintendo-owned IP.
This news comes right off the back of Nintendo ordering a cease and desist notice to the major fighting game tournament, The Big House. The notice came about due to The Big House using a fan-made matchmaking system for Smash Bros. Melee, due to COVID-19. Needless to say, many fans of Nintendo’s games are none too pleased with the company right now. Hopefully, this Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity situation is just a mistake and the issue will be resolved soon.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will release for Nintendo Switch on November 20th.