The recent release of Link's Awakening DX HD, an unauthorized PC port of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, brought joy to many. Yet, inevitably, it pissed Nintendo off.
Released for free a few days ago on the indie download portal and storefront itch.io, the port didn't just make the game playable on PC, but it also improved it on multiple fronts.
These included improved graphics,widescreen support, and better frame rates, much to the joy of many Zelda fans who happen to have a PC.
As many expected, Nintendo's legal team did not take long to send itch.io the inevitable DMCA takedown notice, causing the game to disappear. All that'sleft is the notice itself.
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, offered on Itch.io infringes and makes unauthorized use of Nintendo’s copyrights in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening video game.
[...]
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.
The trailer of the game is already available on its dedicated channel, and you can take a look below before Nintendo's legal tentacles reach that as well.
Of course, this is not to say that Nintendo isn't within its rights in striking down an unauthorized port of one of its games, of which it's providing a retro version on its online service and selling a remake for Nintendo Switch for a whopping $60.
That being said, the game has been online for long enough that Nintendo's takedown likely won't stop its distribution, one way or another.
In the meanwhile, if you're interested in Today's Zelda, you can read our enthusiastic review of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which awarded the game with a 10 out of 10.
