Nintendo Patches Out Delay Mod as Ultimate Competitive Scene Erupts

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s competitive community is frustrated after Nintendo deployed Patch 13.0.5 in September 2026—the game’s first update since June 2025—with a single change that appears directly aimed at disabling the Delay Mod, a fan-created tool players have relied on to compensate for the game’s notoriously poor online netcode.

What the patch actually does

Patch 13.0.5 contains one line of patch notes: “Fixed behavior that occurs when invalid data is sent or received in online battles.” While Nintendo provided no further explanation, the Ultimate community immediately recognized this as targeting Delay Mod, which improves online performance by reducing input lag. The mod became widespread among competitive players because Nintendo’s netcode creates significant lag even on the Switch, making online practice fundamentally different from LAN competition. During COVID, the online-versus-LAN disparity was so severe that major debate erupted over whether online tournaments should count at all.

The timing reignited a contentious issue within the FGC. In 2025, top Snake player Hurt received a public controversy after his team, ENTER FORCE.36, confirmed he had installed unofficial mods on one of his Switch systems. He claimed he only used the equipment in private matches with acquaintances, though footage showed him streaming with it active. The incident drew mixed reactions; many felt players shouldn’t be penalized for trying to fix Nintendo’s lag problem on their own machines. However, Japanese law prohibits console modding, leaving Japanese competitors at a disadvantage compared to players in other regions using Delay Mod. The controversy escalated when Delay Mod’s creator, Bluejay, was doxxed and subsequently announced he would stop developing the tool.

Despite this, players continued using Delay Mod. Rumors suggest Japanese competitors, frustrated by the competitive imbalance, contacted Nintendo directly.

Why this matters for competitive Smash

Nintendo’s relationship with the Smash competitive scene has been rocky. The company has canceled tournaments, issued cease-and-desist letters, and removed Smash from Evo, actions that have bred deep mistrust within the community. Against this backdrop, the latest patch feels like another heavy-handed intervention. While Nintendo’s stated concern—fixing invalid data that could be exploited—might address a legitimate cheat where players disconnect opponents intentionally, the community’s reaction reflects years of perceived hostility toward grassroots esports organization.

Delay Mod represented a practical solution to a real problem: Nintendo refused to invest in proper rollback netcode, making high-level online practice nearly impossible. Players faced an impossible choice: use the mod and risk punishment, or compete at a disadvantage. The patch eliminates that choice by removing the tool entirely.

What’s next

The community will likely continue voicing frustration about Nintendo’s approach to competitive infrastructure. Whether Nintendo plans further patches targeting other tools or competitive practices remains uncertain, but players are watching closely for signs the company intends to support or suppress the scene’s continued growth.