Multiple VTubers have been banned from YouTube after streaming adult movies in Splatoon 3 by using ink projectiles as a pseudo greenscreen to show the mature content.
YouTube and Nintendo took action after VTubers decided to hold a competition that Twitter has since dubbed “Splatoon Adult Video”, which started trending on social media.
According to reports, the VTubing group Sinsogumi would set Splatoon 3’s ink transparency to zero and when they shot an opposing team’s ink color, an adult video would play over it. Apparently, the video was one that VTuber Hinachun, one of the participants, had appeared in.
An archived tweet from one of the competitors states that the side that got banned from YouTube would lose the contest, suggesting that everyone partaking knew they were breaking the rules.
Automation-Media says that Tomeru Ikinone, Kimiko Kikaze, Sigure, Hinachun, Kudoa Tatsuki, Sofia Sapphire, Teriteri Bouzu, and Ryotaro competed in the event.
YouTube takes action after VTubers show adult videos in Splatoon
So far, a few VTubers have been banned with Ikinone Tomeru and Kikaze Kimono’s accounts being deleted. Going to their pages now results in a message that reads, “This account has been terminated due to multiple or severe violations of YouTube’s policy on nudity or sexual content.”
Meanwhile, Sigure’s channel was deleted mid-stream, being one of the first to suffer consequences on YouTube.
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Many of those involved have issued apologies, with the group’s leader, Ikinone, saying, “I made light of breaking the terms of service and simply jumped at the novel and interesting idea.”
【ご報告】この度、所属メンバーである息根とめるの配信内において、不適切な行為がございました。配信をご覧になっていた視聴者の皆様を始めとした関係各所の皆様に深くお詫び申し上げます。詳細については、以下をご確認下さい。 pic.twitter.com/MKvHAwvZct
— 深層組 (@sinsogumi) October 9, 2022
Meanwhile, the Sinsogumi Twitter account said it plans to reprimand Ikinone, but the punishment remains unknown at this time.
Nintendo also responded to the shenanigans, posting to Twitter posting that “Use that violates public order and morals, acts that intentionally mislead the rules of the game, acts that significantly damage the value of the game or characters and the world, and acts that encourage or take advantage of them will be deleted or legally enforced.”
公序良俗に反する利用や、故意にゲームのルールを誤解させるような行為、ゲームやキャラクターの価値や世界を著しく損ねる行為、それらを助長・便乗するような行為に対しては、投稿の削除や法的措置を含めた対応を行うことがあります。ご注意ください。[2/2]
— 任天堂株式会社（企業広報・IR） (@NintendoCoLtd) October 11, 2022
It’s not clear if Nintendo was directly involved in getting the VTuber accounts banned, but it is clear that neither YouTube nor Nintendo are allowing the activity to continue.