Major Pokemon Fan Game Site Hit With DMCA Takedown

Relic Castle, a prominent website for Pokemon fan games since 2014, was forced to shut down following a DMCA takedown notice. This closure comes on the heels of other substantial actions by Nintendo aimed at eliminating unofficial means of playing their games, such as the recent shutdown of the Switch emulator Yuzu and the 3DS emulator Citra. Relic Castle served as a hub for the Pokemon fan game community to share and discuss these unofficial titles. Although it did not host the games directly, its disappearance makes accessing fan-made Pokemon games more difficult.

The website's shutdown will not eradicate the numerous Pokemon fan games available online, but it does pose a challenge for fans to locate these games. Despite the popularity of fan-made titles and their seeming lack of impact on main series sales, companies like Nintendo continue to protect their intellectual property aggressively.

Relic Castle was shut down due to a DMCA takedown notice. The specifics of who issued the notice aren't clear, but it could potentially be from either Nintendo or The Pokemon Company, both known for their protective stances on intellectual property.

Pokemon fan games have created a subculture within the gaming community for many years. Fans have taken to building their versions of Pokemon games, providing new stories, gameplay mechanics, and worlds largely inspired by, but unofficially related to, the main Pokemon series. These fan games are often developed by small teams or individuals passionate about the series and looking to create their unique experiences. While these games are not commercially sold, their production often walks a fine line with regard to copyright law, leading to takedowns like the one that affected Relic Castle.