The current media landscape feels like it’s obsessed with the concept of spoilers. Nearly every article I read, video I watch, and podcast I listen to starts off with a spoiler warning of some kind, even when the topic is a more general look at a game or movie. People. Hate. Spoilers.
It’s gotten to the point now where advertisements are being seen as spoiler-able. A five-hour live stream of chairs with names on them? Don’t you dare tell me what happens, I’m only on chair number 12.
The most common ad-spoiler discourse that I run into online surrounds Nintendo Directs and pretty much every other video game showcase. So, I think it’s time we settle this once and for all: Is it even possible to spoil a Nintendo Direct?
Can a Nintendo Direct Be Spoiled?
Answering the question about whether it’s possible to spoil a Nintendo Direct is pretty simple. By the definition of what “being spoiled” on something is, then, yes, it’s possible to spoil a Nintendo Direct for someone if they haven’t watched it and don’t want to know what sort of announcements are inside the showcase until they get the chance to sit down and see for themself.
The same goes for any video game showcase. I’ve seen people watch livestreams of things like The Game Awards, State of Plays, and Xbox Summer Showcases with a delay and post about how they’ve been spoiled about what was announced a few minutes ago by the live chat or by social media.
With how popular it is to watch showcases like they’re movies or sports games by sitting down with friends or placing bets on what’s going to make an appearance, I completely understand how a person can be spoiled on a Nintendo Direct. The much more intriguing question, however, isn’t whether it’s possible to spoil a video game showcase, but rather if we’ve taken spoiler culture too far, to the point where we even can spoil a showcase.
Spoiler Culture and Headlines
I like the idea that people get excited about video games to the point where they want to make watching showcases a community event. Positivity is something that’s desperately needed in the gaming community right now, and I’m not going to say that anyone who gets joy out of watching showcases completely “unspoiled” is wrong for wanting to do that.
That said, the insistence from some that gaming publications need to be careful not to spoil the major announcements in a showcase is, frankly, laughable. It’s our job as journalists to report on and discuss the comings and goings of the industry, and placing restrictions on what we’re allowed to share from an advertisement makes things more confusing for everyone.
Obscuring information from headlines to pander to a tiny demographic of people who will have watched it and been informed on what the “spoilers” are within a few hours simply does not make sense. If someone can’t tune in to a Nintendo Direct as it airs, it’s their responsibility to avoid “spoilers.”
With that in mind, enthusiast media sites are more likely to keep “spoilers” out of headlines since their reporting slants much more in the direction of fan commentary and community building than real reporting. So, if someone wants to engage with the excitement surrounding a gaming showcase but doesn’t want to deal with spoilers, then those sorts of websites are the ones they should stick closer to.
Spoiler culture has made discussing the games industry difficult. There have been plenty of comments on reviews I’ve read where the commenter is upset about spoilers in the general story synopsis provided. I’ve read comments on articles covering leaked information where the commenter is upset that the leak was discussed at all.
I understand wanting to go into a game or showcase completely “unspoiled”. But if that’s what you want, you need to start meeting the media halfway. It’s our job to talk about games and what’s happening in the news. It’s your job to only engage in those conversations when you’re ready to have them.
