Nintendo Files Takedown Against Fanmade “Link’s Awakening DX” PC Port

Nintendo has filed a takedown notice against another fan project based on one of their franchises.

The target this time was Link’s Awakening DX, which was a fan-made HD remaster of Link’s Awakening for the Game Boy Color, featuring widescreen support, HD visuals, 120 FPS, and a number of other additional features. One notable new addition was the ability to zoom out to the whole island, with every NPC and enemy visible at their appropriate locations.

The game was originally released on itch.io, but visiting its page now leads to a message saying the game’s distribution has been suspended for a “copyright (or trademark) claim”. Nintendo’s official takedown notice is also present there, and reads as follows:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am an authorized representative of Nintendo of America Inc., owner of the following copyrighted material:

PA0002212311 (The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening) and PA0000772666 (Legend of Zelda : Link’s awakening (Game Boy version).

It has come to our attention that the following game, https://linksawakeningdxhd.itch.io/links-awakening-dx-hd, offered on Itch.io infringes and makes unauthorized use of Nintendo’s copyrights in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening video game.

For additional information visit Nintendo’s website at the following URLs:

https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/game-boy-nintendo-switch-online-switc…

https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/the-legend-of-zelda-links-awakening-s…

Please act expeditiously to remove the download and information page for the infringing game.

I have a good faith belief that the material is not authorized by the intellectual property owner, its agent, or the law. The information provided in the notice is accurate, and I swear under penalty of perjury that I am authorized to make the complaint on behalf of the intellectual property owner.

Sincerely,

Nintendo Legal

Given that the game seems to lift assets from Link’s Awakening wholesale, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Nintendo took action. The company is notoriously protective of its franchises, and has filed takedowns against other fan-games and fan-projects for much less.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.