Why is Nintendo focusing on this YouTuber?

Russ Crandall has demonstrated a remarkable ability to transform his life. At the age of 24, he had to relearn basic skills such as walking and writing following a stroke that affected his brain. When heart surgery failed to fully address a rare autoimmune disease, Crandall switched to a paleo diet, an approach that coincided with his recovery. This journey led him to become a bestselling cookbook author of the New York Times and a food blogger. Last year, after a 22-year tenure as a US Navy translator, he transitioned to full-time YouTuber.

Recently, Crandall has faced potential challenges from Nintendo in his new career path. He manages the YouTube channel “Retro Game Corps,” which boasts half a million subscribers who tune in to learn about retro gaming using modern hardware and emulation. His channel, which began as a hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, quickly turned into his primary profession. Crandall decided to close his food blog and retired from the military, holding the rank of master chief petty officer.

However, four years into his work on YouTube, Crandall experienced a setback. On September 28th, after spending an all-nighter at his studio, he saw a newly-edited video vanishing from the platform. He realized that Nintendo had issued a DMCA takedown notice concerning his content about Nintendo Wii U games running on Android handhelds, which led to the video’s removal. This development placed his channel, with its substantial subscriber base, at risk of permanent deletion because of the platform’s “three strikes” policy.

Crandall quickly adjusted his approach to avoid further strikes, opting to self-censor Nintendo games in his future content. Although Nintendo was legally justified in its takedown due to copyright violations, the situation raised questions, given the widespread use of Nintendo content by other creators online. Traditionally, Nintendo has been known to take legal action against unauthorized content and fan projects, leading many creators to cease their efforts.

Crandall, unlike anonymous online users, has been open about his identity and remains a prominent advocate for purchasing Nintendo products. Despite his efforts to support Nintendo through his channel, displaying genuine cartridges in videos, and discussing legal use, Nintendo’s actions came as a surprise. Crandall believes that the first strike occurred because his content drew attention to a device that allows transferring game data, a subject sensitive to misuse.

Facing uncertainty, Crandall must decide whether to challenge the copyright strikes while understanding the legal risks involved. He has opted to remove all Nintendo content from future videos but lacks the resources to edit hundreds of existing videos thoroughly. He finds himself contemplating a move while hoping the situation resolves with time, as one copyright strike is set to expire by late November unless further action is taken by Nintendo.

This predicament is troubling for Crandall, a lifelong fan of Nintendo since his childhood in 1985, as it threatens a career built on sharing a passion for gaming. Nintendo has declined to provide comments regarding the issue.

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