On the eve of Mainstage and proper after one of many greatest shut-downs in Super Smash Bros. historical past, Nintendo has launched a full assertion concerning the Smash World Tour and why it made the choice to disclaim the event organizer an official license—together with a lightweight point out of Panda’s involvement.
According to Nintendo’s assertion to IGN, the choice to refuse a license to the SWT group was “solely based on our assessment of the proposals submitted by the SWT and our evaluation of their unlicensed activities” and nothing else.
With this wording, the corporate as soon as once more alludes to the SWT not assembly some type of well being and security requirements for followers, although no specifics have been supplied. In addition, Nintendo as soon as once more notes that it didn’t straight verbally ask the SWT to cancel its 2022 Championship occasion, stating that “the decision to cancel the SWT 2022 was, and still is, their own choice.”
This is basically a greenlight from Nintendo that opens the door for the SWT to proceed by way of the top of 2022, nevertheless it doesn’t assuage the TOs considerations concerning a number of the wording of Nintendo’s unique assertion which included point out of the SWT Championship 2022—although not a direct have to shut it down.
That doesn’t clear up a lot concerning the specifics behind why the SWT didn’t meet Nintendo’s “high standards” for fan well being and security or model and IP pointers and conducts, and as an alternative acts as the corporate doubling down on an absence of transparency that the majority followers had been upset about from its first assertion.
Related: ‘Can’t catch a break’: Nintendo’s SWT shutdown leaves Hungrybox, iBDW fearing for Smash’s future
In addition to that, Nintendo doesn’t acknowledge any of the accusations introduced up by the SWT group, a number of TOs, and various different people inside the Smash neighborhood concerning the actions of Panda Global and its CEO Dr. Alan Bunney. This consists of no point out of the corroborated reviews of him threatening to close down tournaments if organizers didn’t signal on with the Panda Cup.
Instead of commenting on that second vital facet, Nintendo merely reiterated that it’s “open to partnering with other organizations and will continue to offer licenses for major tournaments outside of the Panda Cup.”
Along with that, Nintendo has seemingly determined to again Panda on this scenario, noting that “Panda Global will continue to be a key partner” and that the group will proceed to “advocate on behalf of the Super Smash Bros. community” for TOs to work with Nintendo to “benefit” the bigger neighborhood.
Players, neighborhood figureheads, and followers from world wide are already leaping to name out this assertion as being “disgusting,” “PR manipulation,” and a complete “non-statement.” Especially in the case of the ultimate paragraph:
“Nintendo cares about Super Smash Bros. fans and its community very much, and we hope to continue to hear their passionate feedback,” Nintendo wrote to IGN. “We are committed to working hard to bring joy and fun to the community through tournaments while also ensuring we and our partners are operating in a manner that is positive and responsible.”
At the second, the neighborhood appears like it’s being handled poorly by Nintendo’s odd wording and lack of particulars concerning the SWT cancellation—even when it wasn’t verbally required to stop operations—and Panda’s seemingly nefarious actions behind the scenes when build up the Panda Cup.
It appears like there may be little or no for followers who need to be optimistic concerning the scenario to carry as one hundred pc reality contemplating how a lot each of Nintendo’s statements seem to contradict what the SWT group laid out initially and in their very own follow-up. And, till the method of licensing has some quantity of readability and Panda’s CEO makes a press release, it’s unlikely issues will change—leaving unlicensed Smash occasions in a state of limbo.
