In a recent Steam news post, the developers of Garry’s Mod acknowledged the removal of certain Nintendo-related workshop items, stating that the takedowns came from Nintendo. They expressed understanding of Nintendo’s decision to protect its content and acknowledged the need to comply with intellectual property regulations. However, the developers also noted the substantial amount of user-generated content in Garry’s Mod, accumulated over two decades, and encouraged users to assist in the moderation process by deleting their own Nintendo-related uploads.
Nintendo’s legal team has a history of actively pursuing intellectual property protection, including takedowns of emulator images, the demise of fan-made mods like the Zelda: Breath of the Wild multiplayer mod, and legal action against emulation projects like the Switch emulator Yuzu.
The impact of Nintendo’s takedowns on Garry’s Mod is expected to be significant, with popular games and creations potentially facing complete removal. One of the most popular maps in the Trouble in Terrorist Town game mode, based on Kakariko Village from The Legend of Zelda, is among those affected.
The broader implications of Nintendo’s actions have also raised concerns, with some speculating whether this could set a precedent for future takedowns of fan-made content.
