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

Smash Together, an unofficial dating app designed for like-minded Super Smash Bros. players to connect and interact, announced it has been hit with a cease-and-desist letter just before its scheduled open beta launch. The app, which was set to go live on May 15 after months of development, faced this setback on May 13. The official account of Smash Together shared a somber Yoshi meme on social media, captioned "We got cease and desisted," indicating the unexpected halt in their plans.

Although the developers did not disclose the sender of the cease-and-desist letter, speculation points towards Nintendo, given the app's focus on their Super Smash Bros. franchise. Smash Together marketed itself as a "premium dating site for Super Smash Bros. enjoyers of all kinds," promising to pair users with their "dream Doubles partner (in and out of Smash)" through a specialized matchmaking algorithm designed to find the perfect "Smash Partner."

The app's features included sections for users to list their preferred character, or "main," alongside their notable achievements in the game. It also incorporated prompts typical of dating apps but tailored with a Super Smash Bros. flair, such as "I'm looking for... Someone who can make it out of pools at a major."

Beyond the potential infringement on intellectual property and copyrights, the concept of a dating app centered around a competitive game like Super Smash Bros. might have been a contributing factor to the issuance of the cease-and-desist. As of now, there has been no indication from the Smash Together team about pursuing alternative paths that do not rely on the Super Smash Bros. theme.

While we await further updates from the developers, it's worth acknowledging the restraint shown in this piece by refraining from any playful puns or "smashing" jokes.