Nintendo Games Return To Japan’s Flagship Speedrun Marathon

Japan’s largest speedrunning marathon, RTA in Japan, is once again featuring a full slate of Nintendo titles after a high‑profile dispute over the “unauthorized use” of the company’s games. A lineup filled with Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Mario Kart showcases how fragile, and how important, the relationship is between community‑driven charity events and the rights holders who ultimately control the games being played.

From Sudden Ban To Full Comeback

In mid‑2025, organizers of RTA in Japan announced that all Nintendo‑published games were being removed from their upcoming summer marathon. The decision followed communication from Nintendo that prior broadcasts had been considered unauthorized use and that any further appearances of the company’s games would require explicit advance permission from the rights holder.

The move drew international attention among speedrunning fans and raised broader questions about how game footage can be used in charity broadcasts and livestreams. For that summer event, the safest option for organizers was to drop every Nintendo game on the schedule, even though historically those titles had been some of the main attractions.

Months later, the tone of the story has shifted. For the winter marathon, RTA in Japan has now confirmed a robust block of Nintendo titles, signaling that negotiations have progressed and that practical guidelines for using the company’s catalog at the event have been worked out.

What Changed Behind The Scenes?

While the specific terms of any agreement between RTA in Japan and Nintendo have not been fully disclosed, organizers have said they will submit individual licensing requests to Nintendo when planning future events. That suggests a more formalized process is now in place, rather than the informal understanding that previously guided the use of Nintendo games during the marathon.

• RTA in Japan acknowledged that past uses had not involved explicit advance permission.
• Nintendo emphasized that, because the marathon is run by a legal entity, permission must be obtained prior to broadcasting its titles.
• Going forward, the event intends to apply for permission game‑by‑game and event‑by‑event.

The winter marathon’s schedule, packed with Nintendo games, is the clearest public sign yet that this new system is working in practice.

A Lineup Packed With Nintendo Classics

For many viewers, the main appeal of RTA in Japan is watching beloved games be broken apart and mastered in real‑time. With Nintendo back on board, the winter event’s program reads like a curated tour through decades of the company’s history, from the 16‑bit era all the way to the Switch generation.

Highlighted Nintendo Speedruns On The Schedule

The revealed list of accepted games showcases both evergreen speedrun staples and newer releases. Among the Nintendo‑published titles are:

• Super Mario World – A cornerstone of 2D platformer speedrunning, known for cape flight tech and intricate shell tricks.
• Super Mario Galaxy – A 3D platformer featuring gravity‑bending levels and complex movement routing.
• Super Mario Maker 2 – Custom levels and community stages that test reflexes, creativity, and consistency.
• Mario Kart 8 – Time‑trials and Grand Prix categories that emphasize tight driving lines and advanced techniques like fire hopping in older versions.
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Famous for sequence breaks and glitches that skip huge portions of the story.
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – A classic 2D Zelda with robust randomizer and glitchless categories.
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker – Long known for its lengthy sailing sections and, more recently, high‑level tricks that cut down travel time.
• Super Metroid – An iconic showcase for movement optimization, boss manipulation, and the famous “save the animals” debate at marathons.
• Star Fox 64 – On‑rails shooting where score routing and path selection decide the pace.

Alongside these tentpole titles, the schedule includes a variety of other Nintendo games across platforms, including Game Boy, GameCube, Wii, and Nintendo Switch. Together, they underscore how deeply Nintendo’s catalog is woven into the culture of speedrunning marathons.

Why Nintendo Titles Matter So Much To Marathons

Nintendo games occupy a special place in the speedrunning scene for several reasons:

• Broad familiarity: Many viewers grew up with series like Mario and Zelda, so runs of those games are accessible even to casual fans.
• Well‑documented glitches: Communities have spent years documenting exploits and techniques, leading to intricate, polished routes.
• High entertainment value: The combination of recognizable music, colorful visuals, and fast‑paced gameplay makes these runs ideal for a live show.
• Community size: Large player bases create competition, which pushes records lower and produces more impressive marathon performances.

Removing Nintendo games from the schedule left a noticeable gap during the summer event. Their return helps restore the balance between classic nostalgia and cutting‑edge technical play that marathons like RTA in Japan are known for.

RTA In Japan: Charity, Culture, And Community

RTA in Japan (often abbreviated as RTAij) has grown into the country’s most visible speedrunning marathon, attracting thousands of online viewers and generating donations for charity. The winter event again runs for a full week, from December 25 to 31, and is streamed globally on platforms such as Twitch.

Charity Focus: Doctors Without Borders

The marathon’s winter edition is once again raising money for Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, or MSF), an international medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid in conflict zones and disaster‑affected areas. According to MSF, the group operates projects in more than 70 countries, focusing on independent, impartial medical care where it is needed most.¹

By featuring Nintendo games in prominent slots—including having a Nintendo title kick off the marathon—RTA in Japan is likely to attract more viewers and, by extension, more donations for MSF’s work.

Speedrunning As A Fundraising Model

RTA in Japan is part of a broader wave of charity speedrunning events that have proven remarkably effective at raising money. The most prominent example is the U.S.‑based Games Done Quick series, which has raised tens of millions of dollars for charities such as Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation since 2010.² These marathons blend entertainment, community participation, and philanthropy in a format that can run nearly around the clock for a week.

Typical elements include:

• Donation incentives: Viewers can donate to name characters, choose game routes, or unlock bonus runs.
• Bid wars: Competing goals (such as different bosses to fight) that race for the highest donation total.
• Live commentary: Runners or dedicated commentators explain techniques and game history in real time.
• Global participation: Viewers from around the world can watch and donate, making the events highly accessible.

RTA in Japan applies the same model in a predominantly Japanese‑language context, helping cultivate a regional scene while still engaging international viewers who are fans of specific games or runners.

The Legal And Licensing Dimension

The temporary disappearance of Nintendo games from RTA in Japan’s schedule highlights a tension that affects many livestreamed gaming events: the use of copyrighted content controlled by companies whose attitudes toward fan‑run broadcasts can differ dramatically.

Copyright, Streaming, And Publisher Policies

Video games are protected by copyright, and the game publishers retain significant control over how their content is reproduced or broadcast. Many large publishers have moved toward explicit video and streaming guidelines that spell out what fans can and cannot do. For instance, Nintendo maintains a customer support page describing its approach to using Nintendo game content in online videos.³ While policies vary by jurisdiction and product, a few common themes include:

• Non‑commercial expectation: Many publishers are more permissive when content is non‑commercial or limited to ad revenue for an individual creator.
• Reservation of rights: Even when publishers allow streaming, they usually reserve the right to revoke permission or issue takedowns.
• Special cases for organizations: Events run by corporations, brands, or formal organizations may fall under stricter scrutiny than individual streamers.

In RTA in Japan’s case, Nintendo appears to have drawn a sharper line between casual, individual use of its games and large‑scale organized broadcasting by a legal entity. The publisher requested that the marathon seek prior authorization for each title, resulting in the summer event’s Nintendo‑free schedule while new processes were negotiated.

Why Charity Doesn’t Automatically Solve Licensing Issues

It is tempting to assume that the charitable nature of RTA in Japan should exempt it from strict copyright enforcement. However, under most copyright frameworks, whether an activity is charitable does not automatically determine its legality. In the United States, for example, fair use analyses focus on factors such as purpose, nature of the work, amount used, and market effect; being associated with a charity is not itself a deciding factor.⁴ While RTA in Japan operates under Japanese law, the general principle that rights holders maintain control over public performance and reproduction tends to hold internationally.

As a result, even charity marathons must navigate publisher permissions, especially when they reach large audiences, feature branding, or involve corporate entities. RTA in Japan’s willingness to adjust its submission guidelines and Nvidia’s readiness to accept formal requests illustrates how both sides can adapt to legal realities without abandoning the event’s spirit.

Why Nintendo’s Return Matters For The Future Of Speedrunning

Beyond this winter’s event, the return of Nintendo games to RTA in Japan signals broader implications for the speedrunning and streaming ecosystems.

Impact On Event Planning

Marathon organizers everywhere can draw lessons from RTA in Japan’s experience:

• Transparent communication: When publishers communicate their expectations clearly, events can adapt before crises emerge.
• Formal agreements: As marathons grow, having written or at least well‑documented understandings with rights holders can reduce risk.
• Diversified lineups: Relying heavily on one publisher’s catalog is risky; a varied schedule helps absorb unexpected changes.
• Documented policies: Updating game submission and selection rules to reflect licensing realities helps runners know what to expect.

By negotiating a way forward with Nintendo, RTA in Japan has created a practical blueprint other events can reference when facing similar questions from publishers.

Community Trust And Goodwill

For viewers and runners, the saga has underscored that access to certain games at marathons is not guaranteed. At the same time, the successful reintroduction of Nintendo titles has reinforced the idea that constructive dialogue can lead to positive outcomes. Rather than a permanent fracture, the result is a more structured partnership that benefits both the rights holder and the community.

Nintendo gains greater control and visibility over how its games are showcased at a prominent public event, ensuring they are presented in a way that aligns with the company’s brand values. RTA in Japan regains some of its most popular games, amplifying its ability to entertain viewers and raise money for charity.

Quick Overview: Timeline Of The RTA In Japan–Nintendo Dispute

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RTA in Japan?

RTA in Japan is a major Japanese speedrunning marathon where players attempt to complete games as quickly as possible while broadcasting live. The event runs for several days, features a curated schedule of runs, and raises money for charity, notably Doctors Without Borders during its winter edition.

Why were Nintendo games removed from the summer event?

Nintendo informed organizers that previous broadcasts of its games at the event were considered unauthorized use and that, as a legal entity, the marathon would need to obtain prior permission for each title. To avoid potential legal or broadcasting issues while negotiations were ongoing, RTA in Japan removed Nintendo games from the summer schedule.

What changed to allow Nintendo games to return?

RTA in Japan adjusted its approach by planning to submit individual licensing applications to Nintendo for each game and event. The winter marathon’s heavily Nintendo‑featured schedule indicates that many of these requests have been approved, allowing the event to showcase titles such as Super Mario World, Ocarina of Time, and The Wind Waker again.

Does the charity nature of the event make it exempt from copyright?

No. While raising money for charity is important, it does not automatically exempt an event from copyright law. Rights holders such as game publishers still control how their content is reproduced and broadcast. Charity marathons must either rely on fair use or similar doctrines where applicable, or, more reliably, obtain permission from publishers for their broadcasts.

How can viewers watch RTA in Japan?

The marathon is streamed live on major platforms such as Twitch, with schedules and links typically published on the event’s official website and social channels. Viewers can tune in to any run they’re interested in and donate to the associated charity via the donation links provided during the broadcast.

Why are Nintendo games so central to speedrunning marathons?

Series like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Mario Kart have decades of history, large player communities, and well‑documented technical routes. Many viewers are familiar with these games, making the speedruns easy to appreciate even without prior knowledge of the scene. This combination of nostalgia, technical depth, and broad appeal makes Nintendo titles prime candidates for marathon showcases.