Breakdown
- Garry’s Mod will remove all Nintendo content from the game after 20 years
- Fan-made content using Nintendo characters has been a huge part of the game
- GMOD developers have verified the DMCA claim
Beloved PC sandbox game Garry’s Mod will remove all Nintendo-themed content following a DMCA from the Japanese game publisher.
As one of the most popular PC games of all time, GMOD features countless fan-made assets that are twisted into hilarious online games. Unfortunately, Nintendo characters will no longer be a part of that comedic history.
In an update on the game’s Steam page, developer Facepunch told fans that they have to go through and remove 20 years worth of Nintendo assets from the game’s Steam Workshop page.
“Some of you may have noticed that certain Nintendo related workshop items have recently been taken down. This is not a mistake, the takedowns came from Nintendo,” the developer explained.
“Honestly, this is fair enough. This is Nintendo’s content and what they allow and don’t allow is up to them. They don’t want you playing with that stuff in Garry’s Mod — that’s their decision, we have to respect that and take down as much as we can.”
Since the news of the DMCA takedown broke, many fans believed the legal action to be a fake. However, GMOD creator Garry Newman took to Twitter to inform fans that the takedown is indeed real.
“I have been assured that the takedowns have been verified by Nintendo as legit, so this will now continue as planned. Sorry,” the developer told fans.
The hit against Garry’s Mod is just another feather in Nintendo’s cap of recent DMCA takedowns. In recent events, the developer took fire against Nintendo Switch emulator Yuzu which was swiftly removed alongside 3DS emulator Citra.
The use of Nintendo assets in Garry’s Mod has been a beloved part of the game’s online community since its very early days. Hilarious YouTube videos involving Mario, Luigi and countless other Nintendo characters have resulted in many millions of views since the early years of YouTube.
While Nintendo is legally right to remove its IP from GMOD, it’s still a sad day for fans of the game around the world.