In September 2016, Nintendo issued over 500 DMCA takedown requests for various fan games based on their intellectual properties.
Such games either can be parodies or fangames that feature the franchise's characters or settings reimagined within the style of other media, or vice-versa.
After the release of Mario Kart 8 in 2014, a short clip featuring "Luigi's Death Stare" went viral; the original clip featured Luigi passing other drivers with an uncharacteristically angry facial pose set to the music of Chamillionaire's 2006 hit song Ridin'.
[132] It evolved over time, originally warning fans that Mario's death was approaching and counting down the days until March 31.
[126] Select video game news websites satirically presented the death of Mario as fact, including VentureBeat and iMore.
[135][136] Notable participation included American TV network G4 and YouTube personality Nathaniel Bandy, which led to a wave of memorials from users.