Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against a popular streamer, EveryGameGuru, accusing him of streaming pirated gameplay content and providing access to illegal game files and tools. According to Nintendo, the streamer has live-streamed gameplay of unreleased games, violating copyright laws, and used various platforms to share these unauthorised videos. The lawsuit outlines how EveryGameGuru allegedly accessed and played pirated versions of Nintendo games, including Mario and Zelda titles, even before they were officially available.
Repeatedly streaming unreleased games
Nintendo claims that since 2022, EveryGameGuru has streamed pirated copies of at least ten titles before their official release dates on over 50 occasions. These streams have taken place across multiple platforms, including YouTube, Discord, Twitch, TikTok, and Facebook. The lawsuit mentions gameplay videos of โMario & Luigi: Brothership,โ which he allegedly streamed five times in October before its November 7 release date. Despite Nintendoโs efforts to have his streams taken down from various platforms, he reportedly continued streaming, moving to platforms like Loco and promoting his CashApp handle with a QR code. Nintendo claims he also created new accounts after each suspension, bragging in emails to Nintendo about having โa thousand burner channelsโ and taunting them by saying he โcan do this all day.โ
The lawsuit further alleges that EveryGameGuru streamed โSuper Mario Jamboreeโ before its official release on October 17, 2023. Nintendo also highlights his history of allegedly streaming unreleased versions of games like โThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom,โ โPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door,โ โMario vs. Donkey Kong,โ and โSuper Mario RPG.โ
Linking to piracy tools and instructions
Beyond streaming the games, Nintendo claims EveryGameGuru shared tools and guides to help others access pirated content. Nintendo included screenshots in its lawsuit showing the streamer linking followers to emulator software, such as Ryujinx and Yuzu, and even sharing a step-by-step guide on downloading and playing illegal ROM files. He allegedly provided links to websites distributing Nintendo game ROMs and to a site with Nintendo Switch decryption keys, which are necessary to play the consoleโs games on emulators. The lawsuit notes that EveryGameGuruโs posts were often outspoken, with him writing โCapitalism is cancerโ in one instance and expressing frustration over his channelโs takedowns for sharing gameplay videos.
Nintendoโs lawsuit describes this activity as deliberate copyright infringement, aiming to profit by bypassing legitimate channels. The lawsuit alleges that EveryGameGuruโs actions were intended to spread unauthorised copies widely, harming the companyโs business by enabling piracy among its audience.
Damages sought for each copyright violation
Nintendo is pursuing substantial damages, requesting US$150,000 per instance of copyright infringement. The total damages could reach millions with allegations that EveryGameGuru streamed pirated versions of ten games over 50 times. According to Nintendo, these actions have caused significant losses, given the size of its audience across streaming platforms and the demand for exclusive early access to Nintendoโs popular titles.
The company has taken strong legal action to discourage similar behaviour and protect its intellectual property from unauthorised distribution. This case follows a pattern of strict copyright enforcement by Nintendo, which has previously pursued legal action against ROM sites and other sources of game piracy. Nintendoโs aggressive approach underscores its commitment to safeguarding content and discouraging piracy on streaming platforms.
