Streaming is one of the most valuable marketing tools available to video game developers and often allows them to get their game in front of millions of viewers without having to spend a single penny on advertising.
As a result, many developers allow streamers on YouTube, Twitch, and other video streaming sites to record and play their games with very few restrictions.
However, video game developer Atlus is not known for following this trend and has been quite strict with its streaming rules in the past.
And Atlus has stuck to form with its recently released streaming rules for Persona 5: The Phantom Strikers which prohibit using personal capture cards and require streamers to add a copyright notice to any footage or screenshots that they share.
Here’s the full list of conditions for streaming Persona 5: The Phantom Strikers:
- Screenshots and videos must be uploaded using the consoles’ own capture and share functions
- Screenshots or videos captured via personal capture cards are not allowed
- Streamers can only upload videos to sites supported by the sharing features on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 (PS4)
- Streamers are not allowed to share anything about the game’s endgame or anything afterwards
- Streamers must clearly mention that there are spoilers if they show event scenes or story scenes
- Footage and screenshots must contain the copyright notice: ©ATLUS ©SEGA/ ©KOEI TECMO GAMES All rights reserved. ©
- Uploading background music or music data for the main purpose of listening to music is not allowed
- Uploading gameplay to sites that require subscription services or payment to browse is not allowed
- Using gameplay footage to slander other people is not allowed
- If Atlus requests that streamers remove a video, for any reason, it must be removed immediately
- If Atlus deems that a video or broadcast is “inappropriate,” it may “delete or stop the distribution” it
- If the streaming or uploading of gameplay leads to monetary loss, Atlus does not hold any responsibility, nor will it pay any monetary compensation
Twitter users have blasted the restrictive rules with several users taking issue with Atlus telling people what to do with a game that they own.
https://twitter.com/the_guy_is_good/status/1229883662885380098
Other Twitter users have criticized the restrictions on uploading in-game music because Atlus hasn’t released the soundtrack for purchase which means fans have no official channels for listening to the music.
And some Twitter users are pointing to past attempts by Atlus to enforce restrictive streaming rules which “REALLY didn’t work.”
https://twitter.com/joshuagsbaron/status/1229866996298403840
The introduction of these controversial streaming restrictions come days after Atlus was blasted for censoring another game in the Persona series – Persona 5 Royal.
In this instance, fans of the game were critical of Atlus for responding to complaints that they believe weren’t genuine and mostly orchestrated by some users on the video game discussion forum ResetEra.
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