Nintendo Games Missing from RTA in Japan Summer 2025 Lineup

RTA Japan and Nintendo

The official game lineup for RTA in Japan Summer 2025 has been revealed, and this year’s list noticeably excludes any titles from Nintendo.

The event is scheduled to run from August 9 to August 15, and while the speedrunning community is gearing up for another marathon showcase, the absence of Nintendo games has sparked a wave of discussion online.

Held twice annually, RTA in Japan is one of the most-watched speedrunning events in the country. Past events have drawn millions of hours of viewership—with the Summer 2024 edition featuring fan-favorite Nintendo titles like Super Mario 64, Pokémon Red and Blue, Tears of the Kingdom, and Splatoon, which dominated the top-viewed runs. But this time, not a single Nintendo title made it into the schedule, as first reported by Automaton.

The reason for this change isn’t officially confirmed, but speculation is already swirling. Some fans point to Nintendo’s end-user license agreement, which discourages the public display of glitches or unintended gameplay—an element often central to speedrunning. Their content sharing guidelines also restrict showing methods that bypass game mechanics or exploit bugs, which could make the inclusion of Nintendo games risky for event organizers.

As of now, no public statement has been made from Nintendo or the event team. Many believe it could be a preventive move by RTA in Japan to avoid potential legal gray areas or copyright issues. After all, speedrunning often walks a fine line between clever play and unintended use, which might not sit well with stricter publishers.

Nevertheless, for speedrunners, the event organizer brings titles like Final Fantasy IX, Dragon Quest IV, Mega Man 9, Resident Evil 2, the Monster Hunter 2 remake, and much more.