Nintendo Japan cancels events after threats made against employees and fans
Several Nintendo events which were set to take place in Tokyo over the next few weeks have been cancelled after Nintendo employees and fans have received threats.
Events including Nintendo Live 2024 and several competitive events have been postponed or cancelled due to these threats.
Nintendo has cancelled or postponed several events including Nintendo Live 2024 over security concerns
After threats targeting employees, spectators and fans of Nintendo games, including Splatoon, Nintendo has made the difficult decision to cancel Nintendo Live 2024 and postpone the Splatoon Koshien 2023 National Finals.
The Splatoon Koshien 2023 National Finals were set to take place at the Ota Sogo Gymnasium in Tokyo from 16-17 December, and Nintendo Live 2024 was scheduled to run from 20-21 January at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition centre.
As translated by VGC, Nintendo said: “Our company has been persistently receiving threatening behaviour targeting our staff.
“Recently, these threats have extended to the audience and staff of the Splatoon Koshien 2023 National Finals event as well.
“With consideration to the safety of our customers as our top priority, we have decided to postpone the event.
“Nintendo Live 2024 Tokyo… has been cancelled due to the inability to ensure the safety of our customers.
“We deeply apologise to our customers who were looking forward to these events and ask for your understanding in this matter.”
Several competitions which were set to take place at Nintendo Live 2024, including the Splatoon 3 World Championship 2024 and the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe World Championship 2024 have also been postponed.
This is not the first time Nintendo has been faced with threats to the safety of its employees, as a bomb threat was received by Nintendo NY in April 2018 and a woman was arrested earlier this year for sending death threats to a Nintendo executive.
Nintendo has not shared more details regarding the threats at this time.
