The video game industry is in shambles. It seems every week there’s a new studio that faces either mass layoffs or being shut down entirely. AAA budgets have ballooned to such a degree that every game must break sales records just to break even and development time for a single game lasts almost a full console generation. Amongst it all Nintendo has persevered. Amidst all the strife, Nintendo has been the good guy who releases quality games at a record pace while cultivating long-term employee talent. Even as they shut down ROM sites and take down fan creations, they’ve been the ones untouched by the corruption of the modern gaming industry.

Then came today’s Nintendo Direct. June 18th, 2024 is a day that should live in infamy. While many are celebrating the atrocious crime that Nintendo just committed against hapless gamers it is I who is willing to take a stand. Just because this is their first major infraction does not mean they should get a pass for what they’ve perpetrated.

Many will turn a blind eye simply because they’re Nintendo. Many will simply ignore the abhorrent act they committed and instead focus on the games. I wish I could be one of those ignorant gamers but I love video games too much to let this slide. I’d love nothing more than to be writing about all the games shown off that I’m excited about. It would be my dream to simply write about…

Finally a new Mario & Luigi game. Not only that but it’s the first one for a home console. I wish I could be talking about how excited am for this. I wish that there wasn’t a black cloud hanging over this Direct that’s preventing me from going gaga over the art style. The gabagool brothers are back together in a new RPG and I’ve always liked their RPGs better than the other Mario RPGs. With all respect to Paper Mario but these games are the Mario RPGs I’ve enjoyed the most and it’s so good to have it back. There’s nothing like the Mario Brothers teaming up to lay the hammers down. I wish I could be writing about any of that but instead all I can do is lament the horrible crime Nintendo committed. I can’t even muster the enthusiasm to joke about…

Finally, Butters Stotch has the Nintendo Switch game he’s always wanted. I wish Nintendo didn’t sully their reputation with that horrifying display so I would feel good about making a joking entry on how I’m excited for this Hello Kitty clone of Animal Crossing. But alas I cannot nor can I talk about my reserved enthusiasm for…

In a better world, Nintendo wouldn’t have done what they did and I would be able to discuss how I’m quite interested in Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports. It’s an arcade sports party game starring the Looney Tunes all crudely animated in 3D. There are 4 sports included and it supports local multiplayer. If this was a normal Direct that simply showed games I would be talking about how I’m interested but trepidatious about this game. Unfortunately, Nintendo decided this would be a Direct where they openly commit a crime against gamers so I have to focus on that instead of talking about how this reminds me of a PS2-era game, and that will either be a good or bad thing. But that’s not the reality of the situation so I can’t talk about that, I can’t even talk about…

Finally, Donkey Kong Country Returns will be on the same system as Tropical Freeze. Some will act like this is not a good thing and while I could express disappointment that there isn’t a new Donkey Kong game, it’s just nice that both returns games are now together. On a better day, after a better Direct, I would be writing about how I’ve never played this and how I really enjoyed Tropical Freeze so I’m looking forward to this. If it wasn’t for the atrocity that permeated this Direct I’d be writing about how while DK fans may be clamoring for a new game, letting people who have never played this get a chance to is a good thing. If only things had turned out differently I’d even be hyping up…

To me, there is no greater modern gaming creation than the HD-2D graphical style. If it were up to me, every sprite-based game would use this style and every 8 or 16-bit retro game would get a remake with it. I’d love to just ignore what Nintendo and rave about this for a paragraph. Nothing would please me more than if I could just focus on how incredible this looks and how long I’ve been waiting for it. I wish all I had to write about was how the surprise announcement that they were also doing an HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest 1 and 2 to complete the trilogy. 3 of the best RPGs ever are being made better and I wish I could focus on that but I can’t. I can’t even talk about…

I’m not a big fighting game guy but Marvel vs. Capcom was my childhood. The words “I’m gonna take you for a ride” have been tattooed in my brain for 15 years. If the dark cloud of crime wasn’t plaguing all discussions of this Direct I would regale you with tales of how as a kid I would always play the Marvel vs Capcom 2 arcade machine at my local movie theater. After every movie I’d spend a few quarters and while I don’t think I ever actually won I still loved it because it had so many of my favorite heroes and introduced me to so many more. But I can’t regale you with those tales because of the evil that Nintendo committed nor can I express my excitement for…

Not only are we getting a brand new top-down Zelda game but for the first time since the CD-I cursed all who played it, Princess Zelda is the playable protagonist. Top-down Zelda is a classic gameplay formula that never went out of style even as the series evolved into third-person. I’m surprised it’s taken this long after the Link’s Awakening remake for a new top-down game but I’m glad it’s finally here. Were Nintendo a decent company that would be the tone of this piece. It would be an upbeat piece full of joy and excitement and right now I’d be writing about how it’s about time Zelda herself was given the spotlight and that I think the gameplay looks neat. Instead of fighting with a sword like Link Zelda has a fairy friend who can conjure objects that will help Zelda solve puzzles and take down enemies. If it weren’t for Nintendo completely overstepping their boundaries I’d be writing about how that gameplay conceit seems ripe for player experimentation and freedom even in a confined top-down space. But that’s not the world we live in.

When that Nintendo Direct started I was looking forward to writing about all the games I was looking forward to. Directs are supposed to be hype-filled joyous events for gamers and that’s what I was expecting. I was going to make note of the games I was most looking forward to and then write about them here. But Nintendo didn’t allow me to do that because all I could focus on was the crime. The sheer contempt they must have for gamers to even do such a thing is sickening to think about.

So while everyone ignores it and lets them get away with it just because they’re Nintendo, I will be here thinking about the victims. While everyone has fun writing about and discussing all the games they’re excited about, I will be here thinking about the victims.

I implore all of you to also think about the victims. Put your excitement for Metroid Prime 4 and Super Mario Party Jamboree aside and think about the victims. Put them and their families in your heart and your prayers. Put your hype for games aside and think about what message you’re sending to Nintendo by letting get away with such a vile act.

For 40 minutes, live on the internet with millions watching Nintendo callously and without remorse instructed Hollow Knight fans to kill themselves and they must answer for their crimes.