The developers of Cooking Mama: Cookstar have denied allegations that the Nintendo Switch eShop version of their game is mining cryptocurrency and said there is “no cryptocurrency or data collection of blockchain” elements in its code.
The developers put out a statement after claims that the game was mining cryptocurrency and causing Nintendo Switch consoles to heat up went viral on Twitter.
The developers told games industry news reporter Ryan Brown:
“As the developers we can say with certainty there is no cryptocurrency or data collection or blockchain or anything else shady in the code.
The Nintendo Switch is a very safe platform, with none of the data and privacy issues associated with some mobile and PC games.”
Developer and reverse engineer SimonTime also tweeted that he found “no cryptominer/blockchain stuff anywhere within Cooking Mama: Cookstar” after reverse-engineering the code.
I keep seeing rumours about there being a cryptominer in Cooking Mama: Cookstar, and due to its inclusion, it was pulled from the eShop.
After some RE work, I can safely say there is no cryptominer/blockchain stuff anywhere within Cooking Mama: Cookstar's code.— SimonTime (@itssimontime) April 5, 2020
The developer's response comes after a series of irregularities have surrounded Cooking Mama: Cookstar over the last couple of years.
In February 2019, the game was announced as Cooking Mama: Coming Home to Mama and marketed as “the first game to integrate blockchain technology on major consoles.”
This announcement also stated “we are using blockchain to add new innovative gameplay that investors can now have equity in” and referred to “digital preferred shares.”
https://twitter.com/nintendaan/status/1246851705318367235
When asked about the blockchain references in this 2019 announcement, the developers told Brown this was “hypothetical” and never integrated into the final product.
From dev regarding blockchain press release:
“This is a release from Feb 2019, and we presume hypothetical like most releases about blockchain are. Blockchain was never brought up to us developers, and we were entertained to hear about in late 2019. Not happening anytime soon.”
— Ryan Brown ? (@Toadsanime) April 5, 2020
However, Brown later added “it would seem the blockchain code was there at some point but was removed” and suggested this likely caused poor optimization.
Brown also tweeted that the developers didn't seem aware of the blockchain plan yet it “existed at a publisher level.”
It would seem the blockchain code was there at some point but was removed, which is likely what caused the poor optimisation.
Very strange story. Devs didn't seem in the know on the blockchain plan but it definitely existed at a publisher level.https://t.co/0SJsjN3bc1 https://t.co/xmDX64mJFY
— Ryan Brown ? (@Toadsanime) April 5, 2020
A March 26, 2020, tweet from the Cooking Mama: Cookstar's official Twitter account has also created confusion around the game.
The tweet contained a video that said the game was “available now” and encouraged Twitter users to order the game via the official Cooking Mama: Cookstar website.
If you can't stand the heat, get into Mama's kitchen! #CookingMama is back with her most fantastic and fun video game adventure ever!
Introducing Cooking Mama: Cookstar. A brand-new Cooking Mama experience created for Nintendo Switch™.
Order here: https://t.co/gxje6DKjyZ pic.twitter.com/tHFa35WKZ2
— Cooking Mama: Cookstar (@CookstarMama) March 26, 2020
However, the “Buy It Now” page on this website contains a broken link to the Nintendo Switch eShop version of the game which has left many wondering why the game has been removed from Nintendo's store.
Several gaming news outlets reported that Cooking Mama: Cookstar was available in the Nintendo Switch eShop for a short time before disappearing.
However, it's still unclear why the game was removed from the eShop but some Twitter users are speculating it's a licensing or rating-related issue.
