Nintendo turns YouTubers into partners via new affiliate program

Remember back in May, when Nintendo announced plans to launch its own affiliate program for sharing ad revenue with people posting YouTube videos of Nintendo games? 

The company launched a beta version of the program this week, and it affords developers some interesting insight into how one of the biggest names in games views YouTubers.

The new Nintendo Creators Program treats participants like business partners, allowing YouTubers to register either specific videos or entire channels with Nintendo.

The company will then run ads against that content if the game(s) it showcases are on the Creators Program whitelist of approved titles, and the YouTuber receives a cut of the ad revenue -- 60 percent if its only specific videos, 70 percent for registered channels.

Participants are also required to disclose that they are licensed through the Creators Program and are sharing ad revenue with Nintendo in a way that is "clearly visible and/or audible" to their audience.

This partnership program has been brewing for some time -- back in 2013, YouTubers began reporting that Nintendo was claiming ad revenue from YouTube videos showcasing Nintendo games, splitting it with YouTube and denying it to the video's creators.