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

Smash Together, an innovative dating app designed for Super Smash Bros. enthusiasts, was set to launch its open beta on May 15 after months of development. However, the excitement was short-lived as the app's official account announced on May 13 that they had received a cease-and-desist letter, just days before the planned launch. The announcement was made with a poignant Yoshi meme, signaling the unexpected halt in their plans.

The tweet from SmashTogether's official account read, "We got cease & desisted," leaving fans and followers disappointed and curious about the future of the app. Although the developers did not explicitly mention who issued the cease-and-desist, the general assumption points towards Nintendo, given the app's direct association with the Super Smash Bros. franchise.

SmashTogether positioned itself as the "premium dating site for Super Smash Bros. enjoyers of all kinds," promising to help users find their "dream Doubles partner (in and out of Smash)" through a specialized matchmaking algorithm. The app's unique features included sections for users to list their preferred character, or "main," alongside their notable wins and Smash Bros.-themed prompts, such as "I'm looking for... Someone who can make it out of pools at a major."

The concept of a dating app centered around a popular game like Super Smash Bros. likely raised concerns not only about intellectual property and copyright infringement but also about the appropriateness of such a platform. These factors may have contributed to the issuance of the cease-and-desist letter.

As of now, there has been no further communication from the SmashTogether team regarding potential alternative solutions that might allow them to continue without using the Super Smash Bros. IP. Fans and potential users are left waiting to see if the app can find a way to move forward. In the meantime, the developers' restraint in not making any "smashing" puns in their communications has been noted and appreciated.