Late last year, Nintendo canceled two of its “Nintendo Live” events due to persistent threats sent via its inquiry form on the official website. In April of 2024, a suspect was arrested in the Ibaraki Prefecture and local police were keeping details of the case secret. Now, the man has gone to trial and admitted to his crimes as a result of repeatedly losing in online matches.
According to a new report from Kansai Television News, 27-year-old Kenshin Kazama admitted he made multiple repeated threats against Nintendo and its employees because he “was stressed by playing the game.” While no specific game is mentioned in the report, many believe he is referring to Splatoon 3 as it is the only real competitive game Nintendo has on its console.
“I sent the messages because I was stressed by playing the game,” Kazama stated. “When I kept losing, I got frustrated.” When Kazama was charged in April, it was stated he sent a total of 39 threats via Nintendo’s inquiry form between the months of August and November 2023. Kazama was accused of saying, “I’ll make you regret bringing such a shitty game into this world.” He also threatened to “kill everyone involved” and made the claim to “be careful about events that have spectators in attendance.”
According to the prosecuting attorney in the case, the total damage inflicted by Kazama’s threats adds up to around $4.36 million (or ¥700 million). They also stated, “The consequences are series. There are no extenuating circumstances for his childish motives.” Sentencing has not yet taken place, though is scheduled to commence on July 24, 2024. The prosecution is requesting Kazama be sentenced to one year in prison.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
