Nintendo is no stranger to iconic characters, but sometimes even the most beloved creations can have problematic elements that need to be addressed.

That’s exactly what happened with Foreman Spike, a classic Nintendo character who was known as “Blackie” in Japan.

For those who aren’t familiar with Foreman Spike, he first appeared in Nintendo’s 1984 game Wrecking Crew, which starred Mario and Luigi.

Foreman Spike started in 1984's Wrecking Crew
Foreman Spike started in 1984’s Wrecking Crew

As their boss, Spike was always causing trouble for the dynamic duo by setting traps and obstacles in their way. But while he may have been a fun addition to the game, his original name had some pretty racist implications.

Thankfully, Nintendo has finally decided to update the character’s name to “Spike” across all regions. The company tweeted out this change, stating that the new name will be the same as it is in Europe and the United States.

Roughly translated the tweet states: The name of the character “Blackie” that appears in the family computer software “Wrecking Crew” will be changed to “Spike”, which is the same as the name in Europe and the United States. In addition, the name in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” released on April 28, 2023 is also “Spike”.

It’s worth noting that Spike has made a few other appearances over the years, including in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In fact, this marked his first physical appearance in over 22 years since Mobile Golf, a Japan exclusive Mario-based golf game that released in 2001.

While it’s a shame that it took so long for the change to happen, it’s great to see that Nintendo is taking steps to address problematic content in their games. Here’s hoping that this move inspires more positive changes in the industry!