Man arrested over threats to Nintendo

On 12 May 2026, a 27-year-old man was arrested by police in Kyoto, Japan, after sending threatening messages to Nintendo. The man claimed to have placed bombs at the headquarters of the well-known video game company. However, the investigation found that no dangerous devices were discovered during the threat response.

Threatening messages

The man sent letters to Nintendo containing threats, including statements such as "I'm going to blow you all up" and "my plans cannot be stopped." Nintendo reported the threats on 16 March 2026 after receiving multiple threatening letters in envelopes.

Arrest and investigation

After Nintendo filed its report, an investigation was launched and Nintendo's office was searched for explosives. On 12 May, the man was arrested. He admitted to sending the threatening letters, but no motive for his actions has been made public so far. It is known that he was unemployed.

Previous incidents

This is not the first time Nintendo has faced threats. Earlier, in 2024, an event was also canceled due to a threat, leading to the cancellation of a Splatoon tournament and another gathering in Tokyo. Even earlier, in 2023, Nintendo was involved in an investigation stemming from a vague threat made by a student at California State University.

Conclusion

Despite the absence of any real danger, the incident highlights a worrying trend in which video game companies such as Nintendo are not unfamiliar with threats. While the number of threats against such companies remains relatively low, incidents like this show that safety concerns in the industry continue to persist.