Screenshot from the upcoming Super Mario Odyssey

Nintendo has a longstanding poor reputation with the YouTube community, and the latest change to their Nintendo Creators Program may harm that relationship even more.


The Nintendo Creators Program, which was launched in 2015, allows YouTubers to receive a portion of advertising proceeds from any videos containing Nintendo-copyrighted content. Prior to the establishment of this program, proceeds for videos that included Nintendo-copyrighted content went directly to Nintendo. At the time, the Nintendo Creators Program was panned by the YouTube community, with many members expressing concern about the approval process, and how the amount they can earn on their videos or channels is subject to change.

As of today, YouTubers who are also registered members of the Nintendo Creators Program are no longer allowed to broadcast content on YouTube Live. Nintendo gives partners two options: they can broadcast content on YouTube Live from a channel that isn’t registered to the program, or they can cancel their channel’s registration to the program, and instead register their videos to the program separately. The changes were announced in an email sent to content creators yesterday evening, although Nintendo didn’t officially publish the changes to the program until today.


Some Twitter users have posted the contents of the email, which announces that changes have been made as to how the Nintendo Creators Program will handle revenue generated from live streams. It adds that live streaming falls “outside the scope” of the program. You can read the rest of the message below:

Many reactions to the change have been unfavorable so far on the Twitterverse, with some calling it “stupid” or “bullshit.”



At least one person was confused on Nintendo’s stance regarding livestreaming, thinking that it could cost the company potential advertising profits.


It’s uncertain as to why Nintendo introduced this policy. It’s also unclear if Nintendo has similar rules for those live streaming Nintendo-copyrighted content on other sites such as Twitch. Representatives for Nintendo did not respond by press time. For a full, updated guide to the Nintendo Creators Program, click here.