The Big House, a massive event in theSuper Smash BrosÂtournament season, has been canceled due to a cease-and-desist order filed by Nintendo.This isthe second timeThe Big House has been canceled this year; it was previously canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Slippi, an unofficial rollback netcode version ofSuper Smash Bros. Melee’s multiplayer, allowed the tournament to go on. This same program is the reason behind Nintendo’s legal action against the tournament.Registration for the online version of this tournament began on November 10, with the actual tournament forÂSuper Smash Bros. MeleeÂandÂUltimateÂset to begin on December 4. The Big House is currently refunding registration costs to players.
This marks the second time Nintendo has taken action against a majorÂSuper Smash Bros.Âtournament. The company previously attempted to shut downÂSuper Smash Bros. Melee’s presence at EVO, one of the world’s largest fighting game tournament events, in 2013. For The Big House, 2020 will be the first time the tournament will not be able to go on since the series began in 2011.
Nintendo provided the following statement toPolygonregarding its action against The Big House:
Nintendo appreciates the love and dedication the fighting game community has for the Super Smash Bros. series. We have partnered with numerous Super Smash Bros. tournaments in the past and have hosted our own online and offline tournaments for the game, and we plan to continue that support in the future. Unfortunately, the upcoming Big House tournament announced plans to host an online tournament for Super Smash Bros. Melee that requires use of illegally copied versions of the game in conjunction with a mod called âSlippiâ during their online event. Nintendo therefore contacted the tournament organizers to ask them to stop. They refused, leaving Nintendo no choice but to step in to protect its intellectual property and brands. Nintendo cannot condone or allow piracy of its intellectual property.
Nintendo’s action against a beloved, major tournament has sparked outrage across the competitiveÂSmashÂcommunity, with multiple prominent figures inside the scene taking to Twitter and YouTube to voice their disapproval. Hugo “HugS86” Gonzales, a professionalÂSmashÂplayer and streamer criticized Nintendo on Twitter for using “the player brands built through our own grassroots efforts to promote their new games” only to then prevent those efforts from “growing on our own.”
Ludwig Ahgren, anotherÂSmashÂpersonality that has found fame on Twitch and YouTube posted a videodecrying the companyfor its actions against theSuper Smash Bros.Âcommunity and has announcedhis own online tournamentpowered by Slippi. ESports brands have also rallied with theÂSmashÂcommunity, with the official Twitter account for Tempo Stormtweeting out"#freemelee," a rallying call for those against Nintendo’s recent actions.
