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Nintendo has issued copyright strikes against SteamGridDB for emulated Switch game screenshots

Nintendo took swift action against images of popular Switch titles being used on SteamGridDB.

Donovan Erskine

November 22, 2022 7:05 AM

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SteamGridDB is a third-party website that allows users to customize and use alternate images for the games in their libraries. It’s a particularly popular tool among those playing games through an emulator, as those games don’t have official artwork listed. Images for some high-profile Switch titles appeared on the platform, and The Big N wasted no time acting on the matter. Nintendo has issued a copyright strike against SteamGridDB for screenshots of emulated Switch games.

Games Radar first reported that Nintendo sent a copyright strike to SteamGridDB over the appearance of Switch game screenshots on the platform. The specific games in question were Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 3, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It should be noted that SteamGridDB does not allow users to download and play Switch ROMs, just the images to use in their library.

Nintendo is notoriously protective over its IP, and the company’s philosophy lines up with its actions here. Interestingly enough, there are still images for less popular Switch games on SteamGridDB that weren’t targeted in the copyright strike. What’s more, some users have already begun to re-upload images that were recently removed from the platform.

After the Steam Deck was released earlier this year, word quickly got around that it’s a great place to emulate games. With the Switch’s hardware starting to show its age in recent years, and some users refusing to buy the console solely for its exclusive library, Switch emulation is becoming increasingly popular. Nintendo of course is adamantly against the pirating of its games and will do everything in its power to stop players from doing so. If there are any new wrinkles to this story, we’ll be sure to update the article.

Donovan Erskine

News Editor

Donovan is a journalist from Maryland. His oldest gaming memory is playing Pajama Sam on his mom's desktop during weekends. Pokémon Emerald, Halo 2, and the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 were some of the most influential titles in awakening his love for video games. After interning for Shacknews throughout college, Donovan graduated from Bowie State University in 2020 with a major in broadcast journalism and joined the team full-time. He is a huge film fanatic and will talk with you about movies and games all day. You can follow him on twitter @Donimals_