Nintendo Responds To Animal Crossing Racial Epithet Issue, Blames Internet

Earlier we reported on a copy of Animal Crossing: Wild World that was shipped to game journalists with a racial epithet programmed in the speech patterns of one of the game’s NPCs. Now Nintendo responds.

A copy of DS title Animal Crossing Wild World sent out to media yesterday by Nintendo came loaded with most of the game’s secrets unlocked, it also included a nasty surprise. When you come upon Baabara, the town’s resident sheep, you’re greeted with a racial epithet. The word is used repeatedly in your conversation with the sheep. Here’s the official statement on the issue from Nintendo:

“Previously played copies of the 2005 DS game Animal Crossing: Wild World were sent to 14 members of the media to demonstrate the ability of players to transfer items to the new Animal Crossing: City Folk for Wii. We regret that an offensive phrase was included without our knowledge via a wireless function that allows user-generated catchphrases to spread virally from one game to the next. This version is limited to 14 copies created for media review purposes only and is not available at retailers. We sincerely apologise for the incident and are working with media who received the game cards to return them to Nintendo immediately.”

The evil Internet strikes again.