Nintendo releases strict new guidelines for smaller-scale fan tournaments

Nintendo has released strict new guidelines for the smaller-scale competitive tournament scene, outlining exactly what it will permit – with caps on everything from competitor numbers to ticket prices – before organisers must apply for an official license from the company.

As detailed in its new Community Tournament Guidelines – which were initially published by Nintendo of Japan before appearing in locally adjusted form on Nintendo of Europe’s website earlier today – tournaments will be permitted to continue without a license after 15th November this year, provided they are “small-scale and not for commercial profit”.

More specifically, these strictly limited events – which Nintendo is terming “community tournaments” – may not have more than 200 participants a day when held in-person, increasing to 300 daily participants for online tournaments. Additionally, money raised through spectator tickets and entry fees, capped at £18/€20 and £14/€15 a person respectively, must not exceed the costs of organising the tournament and raising prize money – although prize money (limited to a total of £4,500/€5,000) also cannot be generated from spectator ticket sales.

And there’re plenty more restrictions where those came from; Nintendo is explicitly prohibiting the sale of food and drink at venues with spectators, for instance, while tournaments may not use the name of a Nintendo game in their title (although use is granted for accompanying event descriptions), and schools can only host a license-free community tournament provided it is not open to the public and is held between no more than two schools.