BBC Blamed For On-Air Nintendo Hardware Blunder

The BBC has faced backlash after a major blunder during a breakfast TV segment that aired earlier today. During the show, UKIE boss Nick Poole introduced hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent to a selection of retro gaming consoles, including the ZX81, Nintendo Wii, and SNES.

However, things quickly went awry when the show’s producers inserted a Nintendo NES cartridge into the SNES console, sparking outrage from viewers.

While the hosts laughed off Nugent’s disbelief that Kay had spent hours, even days, playing the original Donkey Kong, the real controversy lay in the incorrect console setup. The mistake was noticed by viewers almost immediately, with many questioning how such an error could slip through on a mainstream channel. One comment read, “Great to see this content on [a] mainstream channel, but a NES cart on a SNES? Where’s the greatest 16-bit console, the SEGA Mega Drive?” Another Reddit user jokingly suggested, “They should’ve gone full mental and added a GameCube controller!”

Social media was flooded with memes and sarcastic remarks, with one user declaring, “I want to report a crime,” and another sarcastically adding, “Tell me you know nothing about gaming without saying you know nothing about gaming.” Some even speculated that the display was set up intentionally by someone with a deep knowledge of gaming or possibly an intern trying to pull a prank on the set.

In response to the backlash, UKIE, the UK’s games industry body, distanced itself from the incident. A spokesperson clarified to VGC that the setup was handled by the studio team independently and could not be adjusted live on air. While some viewers found the mistake hilarious, others were unimpressed, particularly those who felt that retro gaming should be respected when showcased on TV.

This blunder has not only sparked debate about the BBC’s handling of retro gaming content but also highlighted the tension between fans of rival consoles. Many expressed their frustration at the exclusion of other iconic gaming systems, with some pointing out the omission of the SEGA Mega Drive, which played a crucial role in shaping the 16-bit era. One viewer lamented, “No Mega Drive, no Master System, no Mega CD? Retro gaming on TV needs to be more comprehensive!”

In a related Nintendo news story, the director of the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza recently acknowledged some performance issues with the game, but reassured fans that the team had prioritized “fun and playability” during development.