Porn in Super Mario Odyssey is why we can't have nice things
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Critics have bemoaned Nintendo's approach to online play for years, complaining that the company is overly restrictive when it comes to connecting players via the internet. But if you've ever wondered why that might be, look no further than the porn currently filtering into Super Mario Odyssey.
Thankfully, the imagery is relatively easy to avoid. For starters, you can disable online connectivity in the console settings. Otherwise, simply avoid participating in Luigi's Balloon World challenges. The hack uses Luigi's Balloon World to inject indecent content by way of custom profile pictures, which appear on balloons that players can place throughout the worlds of Odyssey.
In other words, modders are taking advantage of an exploit that lets them upload custom profile pictures and, naturally, this has led to people using dick pics to represent themselves online. These pictures then show up on the balloons in Super Mario Odyssey.
Mods and hackers can be a problem in any online community, but Odyssey being a family-friendly game makes this act feel particularly egregious. Some theorize this is the work of "white hat" hackers, ie. good guys, who are simply trying to bring attention to Nintendo's security flaws. But I've seen enough dicks spray painted onto the sides of buildings to know vandalism for the lolz when I see it, and I'd bet good money that's what this is.
Hopefully Nintendo does find a way to plug this metaphorical leak, but don't be surprised if this incident leads to more stringent online policies in the future. This is why we can't have nice things.
Get the best games and entertainment news, reviews, tips and offers delivered to your inbox every week by signing up to the GamesRadar+ newsletter today.
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Sam is a former News Editor here at GamesRadar+. His expert words have appeared on many of the web's well-known gaming sites, including Joystiq, Penny Arcade, Destructoid, and G4 Media, among others. Sam has a serious soft spot for MOBAs, MMOs, and emo music. Forever a farm boy, forever a '90s kid.


