Losing a competitive match can be quite frustrating, especially when you feel your teammates aren’t doing their part. However, it seems a Japanese VTuber took her anger too far. Ars Almal, a member of Nijisanji, became the target of numerous criticisms after a clip from her Splatoon 3 stream went viral, where she decided to report a teammate whose performance hadn’t been the best.

The controversy began in late October, when several X users shared clips from a stream held on September 11. The footage shows the streamer checking the results of a Bankara Match, where one of her teammates had been eliminated repeatedly after moving into enemy ink-covered areas. Considering his playstyle suspicious, Almal decided to report him using the game’s tools.

Interestingly, the player was using a name that could translate to “I’m practicing,” something viewers pointed out during the stream. However, the VTuber didn’t seem to consider this a sufficient excuse and questioned why someone would practice that way in a competitive match. She even suggested he should use Turf War instead of joining Bankara Match.

The clips quickly circulated on social media, accumulating millions of views and sparking a discussion among Splatoon 3 players. Many argued that playing poorly shouldn’t be grounds for reporting, as there’s a big difference between someone still learning and someone deliberately trying to harm their team. Some users even questioned whether Almal’s actions could violate Nintendo’s rules, though no violation has been confirmed by the company.

Ars Almal admits her mistake and apologizes

In response to the criticism, the streamer posted an official apology on October 27 via her X account, acknowledging that some of her expressions and actions during streams had been inappropriate. She also admitted her comments hadn’t always shown proper respect for those she played with.

But one statement particularly caught followers’ attention: this wasn’t the first time she made hasty reports. In her statement, Almal admitted she had previously reported other players for their gameplay without properly assessing the circumstances.

The VTuber apologized to those she reported, those who watched her streams, and her usual supporters. She also pledged to pay closer attention to her words and actions to prevent similar situations in the future.

Meanwhile, the controversy extended to the availability of her past streams, after a recording from October 25 was made inaccessible publicly. Some interpreted this as an attempt to hide what happened, though Japanese media noted Almal had already been restricting certain recordings before this controversy began. In fact, the original September video was still accessible when the first criticisms emerged.

The case has reopened a well-known discussion among competitive gamers: how much frustration is reasonable toward an inexperienced teammate, and when a bad game might be mistaken for deliberate sabotage.

Do you think it’s justified to report someone for playing poorly in a competitive match, or should those who take Splatoon 3 too seriously remember not everyone starts as a pro?