RTA in Japan
Nintendo says no: no Mario or Zelda at Japan's biggest speedrunning event
By LittleG4M3 · 6 August 2025
The RTA in Japan Summer 2025 event, scheduled to take place from August 9 to 15, 2025, will include no Nintendo titles in its official lineup — a surprising first for one of Japan’s most prominent speedrunning events. RTA in Japan is a major gathering dedicated to speedrunning, where players aim to complete games as quickly as possible in real time, often using advanced mechanics, glitches, or expertly executed shortcuts.
A notable absence
Nintendo titles such as Super Mario 64, Pokémon Red and Blue, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Splatoon have traditionally been mainstays of the event, drawing huge audiences during the Summer 2024 edition. Their complete removal from the 2025 roster has sparked frustration and confusion among fans.
Why this exclusion?
Nintendo has not issued an official statement. However, the event organizers revealed that Nintendo contacted them in June 2025 to inform them that, as a legal entity, they must request prior permission to include Nintendo games in the event. Additionally, Nintendo considers all previous broadcasts of their titles at RTA in Japan to be “unauthorized use.” As a result, RTA in Japan has chosen not to feature any Nintendo games this summer and has begun negotiations with the company for future events.
Impact on the event
The absence of Nintendo’s flagship games significantly changes the programming of this major event. Still, the organizers have retained a solid lineup of other popular titles that are staples of the speedrunning scene, such as Final Fantasy IX, Dragon Quest IV, Mega Man 9, Resident Evil 2, and the remake of Monster Hunter 2.