Twitter changes see Nintendo, Rockstar, Valve impersonated using verified accounts
"Mario would never do that :("
Twitter users are using the platform's new Elon Musk era changes to impersonate official video game companies.
For a small fee, anyone can now pay up and receive a blue Twitter verified tick next to their name. So, of course, people are handing over their $8 specifically in order to trick others online.
A verified "Nintendo of America" account went viral last night as it posted an image of the company's mascot Mario giving the middle finger. The handle, @nIntendoofus, has now had their account suspended - but not until their tweets had been widely shared.
A verified "Rockstar Games" account claimed the company would formally unveil Grand Theft Auto 6 next week.
A verified "Valve" account last night announced the Half-Life maker's "next competitive platform" named "Richocet: Neon Prime" in a tweet which received thousands of Likes.
A verified "Twitch" account also announced changes to the platform's much-discussed subscription model, in a tweet from last night which is currently still live - presumably because the account explains in its bio that it is a parody.
Twitter's rapid changes to how it displays verified accounts have caused widespread confusion. Yesterday, the company rolled out a separate "Official" tag for certain verified accounts - only for it to be ditched just hours later by Elon Musk himself, as he decided he didn't like it after all.
"Please note that Twitter will do lots of dumb things in coming months," Musk wrote. "We will keep what works and change what doesn't."
Currently, the only way to differentiate between someone who has paid for their blue tick and those who were previously verified is to click the verified button on someone's profile. This will then inform you if someone has paid, or is verified for other reasons.
Needless to say, until this all improves it's worth being careful with what you read on Twitter.