Nintendo is ending its controversial Creators scheme

Alan Martin November 29, 2018

While Sony and Microsoft have a fairly hands-off approach to fan videos, Nintendo has always been a lot more controlling. Indeed, after issuing copyright take-down requests to YouTube from 2013, Nintendo introduced a somewhat awkward solution in 2015: the ‘Creators Programme’. By signing up to this, Nintendo fans could record footage from the firm’s game, but would only keep 60% of the ad revenue generated.

Nintendo is ending its controversial Creators scheme

Now, it’s coming to an end, and Nintendo is learning to let go a little bit. The Creators Programme is no longer accepting new sign ups, and will shut down completely at the end of the year.

In its place, Nintendo is introducing a set of guidelines which are pretty similar to those used by its rivals. The guidelines are pretty generous, and are a world away from the previous controlling attitude, but there are certain restrictions in placed. Anything that isn’t made with the system’s in-built sharing system, for example, should “include your creative input and commentary,” rather than just being a straight dump of gameplay footage.

“We encourage you to create videos that include your creative input and commentary,” the guidelines read. “Videos and images that contain mere copies of Nintendo Game Content without creative input or commentary are not permitted.”

And footage of unreleased or pirated games is out too, for obvious reasons. “You are only permitted to use Nintendo Game Content that has been officially released, or from promotional materials officially released by Nintendo (such as product trailers or Nintendo Directs).”

Videos that don’t follow these guidelines will still be removed in the time-honoured fashion, it’s suggested. Still, streamers will be happy: this looks like a very welcome step in the right direction, and you get the sense that Nintendo has finally recognised the inherent value that its most enthusiastic video evangelists provide.