Nintendo finally introduces non-binary characters and queer relationships to Tomodachi Life after 12 years, but fans are disappointed by the removal of screenshot-sharing features.

Nintendo has always had its ups and downs, and today’s announcement about Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is no exception. The company finally delivered on a long-standing promise by introducing non-binary characters and queer dating options in the new life simulation game. However, just as excitement peaked, fans were left disappointed by news of restrictions on screenshot-sharing features.

When the last Tomodachi Life launched in 2014, Nintendo faced backlash for not including same-sex relationships, which sparked significant media attention and led to an apology from the company. They vowed to create a more inclusive experience in future installments of the series.

Now, with Living the Dream, players can choose from three gender options—male, female, and non-binary—and customize dating preferences accordingly. This marks a significant step toward representation in the quirky life sim.

While this news should have been a reason to celebrate for the dedicated Tomodachi Life community, the mood quickly shifted. An official support article revealed that Nintendo would impose “restrictions on certain image sharing features” in the game.

“Nintendo aims to create experiences where players have the freedom to enjoy their Mii characters in their own way,” the company stated. “In Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, this freedom can sometimes lead to humorous, surprising, or unpredictable moments during gameplay. While these moments are often fun for players, we recognize that out-of-context scenes may be misunderstood or may not reflect the spirit in which the game is intended to be enjoyed.”

The specifics of these restrictions weren’t detailed in the English article, but a translation of the Japanese site provided more clarity. It noted that features for transferring images to smartphones, posting directly to social media, and automatic uploads (for the Nintendo Switch 2) would be unavailable. However, players can still share the game with friends through Game Chat.

Much of the charm of Tomodachi Life lies in its absurd character interactions, making it puzzling that Nintendo would limit such a fundamental aspect of the game. Yet, it’s easy to see why they might want to avoid scenarios where players could misuse the platform to spread negativity or hate speech through their Miis.