Nintendo has made an unexpected move by barring its games from a charity speedrunning event that has been running for nine years, with the reasoning that the length of time these games were part of the event was seen as unauthorized use.
In a move that has sparked controversy within the gaming community, Nintendo has banned the use of their games at the Japanese charity speedrunning event, RTA. This decision comes after the event, now an official legal entity, did not obtain prior permission to use Nintendo’s intellectual property.
The best budget OLED ultrawide monitor, the Alienware 34 QD-OLED, the best 1440p OLED monitor, the MSI MPG 271QRX, and the best budget 4K monitor, the Gigabyte M28U, will not be featured in this year's RTA event, as Nintendo formally requested that all their games be removed from the event lineup.
Nintendo reached out to RTA in June 2025, informing them that since RTA is a legal entity—even though non-profit—it must get explicit authorization to feature Nintendo games. The event’s past use of Nintendo games (over nine years) was unauthorized, according to Nintendo. As a result, the 2025 Summer edition proceeded without any Nintendo titles, which disappointed fans since games like Super Mario 64 have traditionally been a central highlight of the event.
This move reflects Nintendo’s overarching strict policy regarding control over its intellectual property; they have historically been protective of unauthorized use of their games, including content streaming and fan projects. The action sparked backlash within the gaming community, with criticism that Nintendo’s emphasis on corporate control undermines community-driven charitable events like RTA that showcase skill and passion for their games.
However, the organizers of RTA in Japan are currently in discussions with Nintendo to obtain permissions for future events, so there may be a chance for Nintendo games to return if proper authorization is secured. Meanwhile, other speedrunning events, such as SGDQ, are not affected by this issue.
In other monitor-related news, the best budget option for a 1440p monitor is the Pixio PXC277 Advanced, the best budget ultrawide monitor is the ASRock Phantom PG34WQ15R2B, and the best budget 1080p monitor is the AOC Gaming C27G4ZXE. For those looking for a high-end 1440p monitor, the Xiaomi G Pro 27i takes the crown, while the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is the best 32:9 monitor. For those interested in WOLED monitors, the LG Ultragear 32GS95UE is the best option.
It's important to note that each publisher sets their own definitions for what is and isn't allowed when it comes to streaming their games. Entire websites exist to collect this information to avoid legal issues. In 2022, a man was arrested for streaming a game by CODA, Japan's Content Overseas Distribution Agency.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how events like RTA navigate these complex copyright issues while still maintaining their community spirit and passion for gaming.
- Despite the ban on Nintendo games, other speedrunning events like SGDQ are unaffected, showcasing a variety of monitors such as the Pixio PXC277 Advanced, ASRock Phantom PG34WQ15R2B, and AOC Gaming C27G4ZXE.
- The organizers of RTA in Japan are in discussions with Nintendo to secure permissions for future events, hoping to one day bring back Nintendo titles like Super Mario 64 that have been central highlights in previous editions.
- The recent decision to ban Nintendo games at RTA has sparked backlash within the gaming community, with critics arguing that Nintendo's emphasis on corporate control undermines community-driven charitable events.
- As the gaming industry evolves, it continues to face complex copyright issues, with entire websites dedicated to collecting information about what is and isn't allowed when it comes to streaming games, like the incident where a man was arrested for streaming a game by CODA in 2022.
- As the 2025 RTA Summer edition proceeded without Nintendo titles, the best budget OLED ultrawide monitor, MSI MPG 271QRX, and other Nintendo games were noticeably absent, highlighting the impact of Nintendo’s strict policy regarding control over its intellectual property.
