Smash Bros. Dating App Receives Cease-and-Desist Order

Smash Together, an innovative dating platform crafted for fans of Super Smash Bros., was set to launch its open beta on May 15. However, the developers faced a significant setback when they received a cease-and-desist letter just two days before the scheduled launch. The announcement was made through their official Twitter account on May 14, accompanied by a poignant Yoshi meme stating, "We got cease and desisted."

While the developers did not explicitly name the sender of the legal notice, the general assumption points to Nintendo, given the app's focus on their popular fighting game franchise. Smash Together positioned itself as the "premium dating site for Super Smash Bros. enjoyers of all kinds," promising to help users find their "dream Doubles partner (in and out of Smash)" through a specialized matchmaking algorithm designed to "connect you with your ideal Smash Partner."

The app's interface, as shown in shared screenshots, included unique features tailored to the Smash Bros. community. Users could list their preferred character or "main," share notable wins, and engage with prompts that reflected the game's culture. Examples included preferences such as "I'm looking for... Someone who can make it out of pools at a major."

The concept of a dating app centered around a video game, especially one with a competitive scene like Smash Bros., likely raised concerns beyond just intellectual property and copyright infringement. These factors may have prompted the issuance of the cease-and-desist letter.

As of now, there has been no further communication from the Smash Together team regarding potential alternative solutions or plans to relaunch the app without the Super Smash Bros. theme. The community awaits further developments, while appreciating the developers' efforts and the unique approach to connecting gamers.