As initially reported by [Automaton](https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260406-435036/), Nintendo has recently conducted a significant removal of a wide array of levels from *Super Mario Maker 2* available on its Nintendo Switch servers. Initially, the deletions were estimated to involve around 300 levels; however, the community is now speculating that the actual number might approach 1,000 levels. The rationale for these removals has been linked to the presence of “advertising content” within the affected levels.
An unusual element of this situation has surfaced, with members of the *Super Mario Maker* community positing that a well-known cheater referred to as MT94 may be connected to these mass removals. To grasp this association, it’s crucial to examine Nintendo’s reasoning for the deletions. As noted by kaizo ROM hack designer and *Super Mario Maker* content creator [PangaeaPanga](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK8LAzVB6PU), the deletions appear to concentrate on levels employing specific hashtags and variations of the title “TeamShell.”
Team Shell is a well-known Discord server where *Super Mario Maker* fans exchange codes for their innovative levels. Members frequently label their levels with tags like “#TS” or “#TeamShell” to signify their creation for this community’s purposes. For example, a level created by a user named JankPickle was removed due to “advertising,” seemingly connected only to its hashtag content without any further indication of promotional intent.
The timing and motivation behind Nintendo’s cleanup raise inquiries, especially considering that some of the removed levels are several years old and *Super Mario Maker 2* has not undergone a significant update since February 2024. Speculation has surfaced within the community, notably after one user in a different *Super Mario Maker* Discord admitted to taking accountability for reporting these levels. This user, known as LMT, has a YouTube account tied to MT94—who previously ranked as the second-highest-rated player in the game before a cheating scandal involving multiple Nintendo Switch consoles for rank manipulation resulted in their ban.
Such actions, particularly from MT94, have placed Team Shell under Nintendo’s critical examination. It is believed that MT94 has taken advantage of a method involving several Switch consoles to file reports on levels tied to Team Shell, initiating a surge of removals. Furthermore, other users have indicated that their Nintendo Switch accounts are facing suspensions, suggesting that there might be an automated system that penalizes accounts with an excessive number of reports filed against them.
Whether Nintendo will address the suspensions or reassess the deletions remains unclear. Currently, levels that have been removed cannot be reuploaded, irrespective of any modifications made, indicating a permanent loss for the creators and the community. This incident highlights the delicate nature of online gaming communities and the influence that the misconduct of a few individuals can wield over the overall player experience.
