However, this practice was not without controversy. Nintendo aggressively targeted QR code distribution of copyrighted content, particularly for Pokémon games. Distributing a QR code that unlocked a mythical, event-only Pokémon like Mew or Arceus was seen as a direct circumvention of Nintendo’s paid distribution events. While the code itself contained no game data—only a tiny set of instructions to modify existing memory—Nintendo argued it facilitated piracy and cheating. Consequently, many QR code repositories were taken down via DMCA notices. This legal pushback forced the community to become more decentralized, relying on private Discord servers and encrypted file hosts, proving that even a two-dimensional barcode could become a battleground for digital rights.
The homebrew community has embraced QR codes as a distribution method for original DS games and utilities: