After ex-employee statements earlier this week, the Pokemon Company has issued a statement clarifying that they do not object to a popular style of playing. The Pokémon Company International stated that they "do not have any concerns with fans or creators playing the video games with Nuzlocke rules" in response to Eurogamer's inquiry about whether they objected to users performing Nuzlocke runs on Pokemon games. The remark seemed to put a stop to the confusing internet discussion that had been going on during the previous weekend around Pokemon video games, celebrities, and the well-liked fan-made ruleset. 

A Nuzlocke is a gameplay of the Pokemon video game that abides by particular, arbitrary restrictions. Despite the fact that there are a number of different Nuzlocke variations available, practically all of them impose restrictions on the types of Pokemon that can be caught and demand that players release any members of their team that fainted during a battle. These limitations make players much more methodical and cautious with their activities, especially in early areas where they don't have access to a large number of Pokemon. Because Nuzlocke runs to make a Pokemon game more challenging and frequently result in dramatic turns when a cherished Pokemon faints in combat, they are well-liked by many influencers and makers of Pokemon content. 

Thanks to the Kit and Krysta Podcast, which is hosted by former Nintendo Minute broadcasters Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, Nuzlocke runs were discussed this past weekend. The pair described how they once recommended to Nintendo that they host a Nuzlocke for Nintendo Minute, but they encountered a lot of opposition. Ellis stated that they believed they would be fired for advocating a Nuzlocke run on an official Nintendo channel because The Pokemon Company considers Nuzlocke runs "to be on the same level as using a hacked game" 

There may be some misunderstanding because many Nuzlocke runs are created using emulators and randomizers, both of which alter the code of a Pokemon game. These Nuzlockes variations are equivalent to hacked games since, well, they are hacked games. However, it appears like The Pokemon Company has resolved the issue, allowing gamers to freely complete Nuzlocke runs of their favorite Pokemon games. Just be sure to give your Pokemon particularly poignant names to make the sad occasion of their release all the more terrible.