A recent episode of Polygon's YouTube series "Unraveled" has applied the stringent regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to the battlegrounds of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, revealing a hypothetical financial penalty of millions of dollars for various stages.
In the episode, host Brian David Gilbert meticulously analyzes numerous stages from the popular fighting game. Each stage is assessed for potential safety hazards that would be subject to OSHA scrutiny in a real-world workplace. The analysis extends to the inherent dangers presented by stage hazards, environmental elements, and the general chaotic nature of the game's combat.
By this unique framework, Gilbert calculates the potential fines that Nintendo, as the operator of these virtual "workplaces," would incur. The cumulative violations across the vast roster of stages result in a projected cost running into the millions, highlighting the comedic yet surprisingly thorough application of real-world safety standards to a fantastical video game setting.