Nintendo said that an animation for Mr. Game & Watch in Smash Bros. Ultimate will be edited because it could be offensive to Native Americans. In a statement, the Japanese company said this kind of reference from decades past does not reflect its current values.
The controversial animation originated in the 1982 Game & Watch handheld game Fire Attack, in which players defend a wooden fort from torch-carrying Native Americans. The image was shown during the final presentation in the recent Nintendo Direct about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
In a statement, the company explained: "Nintendo plans to distribute an update for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that removes the feather from the silhouette of Mr. Game & Watch. (...) The original game on which this depiction of the character is based was released more than three decades ago and does not represent our company values today. (...) We sincerely apologize that this change was not noticed in our marketing material, and we are continuing our work to make Super Smash Bros. Ultimate an experience that is both welcoming and fun for everyone."
It is important to note that this was not the first time Nintendo edited Fire Attack sprites to suit modern times. When it rereleased the game in the Game & Watch Gallery 4 collection for Game Boy, the company had already removed the feather from Mr. Game & Watch.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be released on December 7, 2018, and we have already provided extensive coverage of this highly anticipated game.
Below is the sprite that will be removed.
Mr. Game & Watch sprite that will be removed
