Cover Corporation, the company behind VTuber group Hololive, issued an announcement today (April 9) formally apologizing for the controversy surrounding a live stream by one of its VTubers, which was "suspected of violating Nintendo's game guidelines."
Although the announcement did not name a specific VTuber, it is widely believed to refer to VTuber Usada Pekora (兎田ぺこら) and her playthrough of the game "Pokémon Emerald," which led to a confusing situation for viewers.
The incident began when Usada Pekora purchased a second-hand "Pokémon Emerald" game cartridge, attempting to catch Pokémon that typically only appear under specific item conditions. However, viewers pointed out that the cartridge used in the stream might have been modified, as many Pokémon appeared that wouldn't normally be available through legitimate distribution methods. Some viewers even noted signs that the game itself had been altered.
This raised questions about whether the content complied with Nintendo's relevant guidelines. Despite the controversy, she initially continued streaming, drawing considerable criticism. Afterward, Pekora stated that she decided to terminate the project because she couldn't determine if the game had been modified.
▼ Many posts on X criticized the use of modified game cartridges for streaming.
▼ Usada Pekora's last "Pokémon Emerald" stream took place on April 3.
According to Nintendo's "Guidelines for Using Nintendo Copyrighted Works in Network Services" published on their official website, streaming with modified games falls under "illegal or inappropriate content distribution," which is explicitly listed as a violation of their usage guidelines.
Regarding this matter, Cover Corporation stated that they consulted with Nintendo and discussed the issue. Ultimately, they decided to take the following measures:
1. Setting related videos to private to prevent further misunderstanding.
2. Avoiding future streaming projects that may risk violating the guidelines.
3. Re-emphasizing and educating its VTubers on the importance of adhering to platform guidelines.
Cover Corporation also stated in its announcement: "In addition to removing the videos, we will optimize our overall project planning processes and strengthen guidance and awareness campaigns for our affiliated talents, striving to improve our current system." They concluded by apologizing to fans and all involved parties: "We deeply apologize for the trouble and inconvenience caused by this incident to our fans and all involved parties."