Why did Nintendo stop Smash?

Nintendo stopped Smash World Tour, one of the largest fighting game competitions in the esports scene, due to unlicensed tournaments that allegedly infringed on their intellectual property rights. The decision was made after months of negotiations between Nintendo and the event organizers, with Nintendo ultimately denying their request for an official license.

Understanding the Situation

The Smash World Tour was a prominent event in the esports calendar, attracting thousands of players and fans from around the world. However, Nintendo’s decision to shut down the event has raised questions about the company’s stance on esports and community-driven tournaments.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. What is Smash World Tour?: Smash World Tour is a series of Super Smash Bros. tournaments that bring together players from around the world to compete in a competitive esports environment.
2. Why did Nintendo cancel Smash World Tour?: Nintendo canceled Smash World Tour due to unlicensed tournaments that allegedly infringed on their intellectual property rights.
3. Will there be a Smash World Tour in 2023?: Unfortunately, the 2022 Smash World Tour Championships were canceled, and there are no plans for a 2023 Smash World Tour.

Smash Bros. Series

4. Why was Waluigi removed from Smash Bros.?: Waluigi was not removed from Smash Bros., but rather, he has always been a supporting character in the Mario series and does not have a game where he plays the main role.
5. Is SSBU the last Smash game?: According to Masahiro Sakurai, there are currently no plans for a sequel to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but this does not necessarily! mean that there will never be another Smash Bros. game.
6. Is Smash Bros. officially over?: While Masahiro Sakurai has retired from the series, there is still a possibility that another Smash Bros. game could be developed in the future.

Fortnite and Smash Bros.

7. Did the Smash get removed from Fortnite?: Yes, the Deku Smash item was temporarily removed from Fortnite due to epilepsy concerns and balancing issues.
8. Is Smash back in Fortnite?: Yes, the Deku Smash item has been reintroduced to Fortnite, and players can once again use it in-game.
9. Is Fortnite Guy in Smash?: There is no Fortnite Guy character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but Epic Games and Nintendo have collaborated on other projects.

Esports and Community Tournaments

10. Can Nintendo legally shut down tournaments?: Yes, Nintendo reserves the right to take legal action against or cancel any Community Tournaments that violate their guidelines or infringe on their intellectual property rights.
11. Why did Epic Games remove Fortnite from the App Store?: Epic Games introduced a new in-game payment system that would skirt the 30% fee required by Apple and Google, leading to the removal of Fortnite from the App Store and Google Play.
12. Is the Smash box banned?: No, the Smash box is currently legal at major Super Smash Bros. and fighting game events, such as Genesis, Smash World Tour, and EVO.

Miscellaneous

13. Why was Steve banned from Smash?: Steve was not banned from Smash, but rather, some players have complained about his chaos and unpredictability in-game.
14. Is Smash coming back?: While there are no plans for a new Smash Bros. game, Masahiro Sakurai has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the series in the future.
15. What is the current state of the Smash World Tour?: The Smash World Tour has been canceled, and there are no plans for future events, but the Super Smash Bros. community remains active and engaged, with many players and organizers hoping for a revival of the series.