The Federal Bureau of Investigation has seized control of one of the best-known Nintendo Switch piracy sites. The home page for Nsw2u--which once hosted numerous Switch ROMs--now redirects to a message announcing the site's takedown.
According to Kotaku, the FBI's message notes that Nsw2u was seized as part of a law enforcement operation that involved the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service, a Dutch government agency that handles financial crimes. The warrant for the takedown was issued from a US District Court in Georgia.
Nintendo hasn't been shy about its increased efforts to combat piracy, especially since the launch of Switch 2 last month. Several users found out the hard way that placing an MIG Switch cartridge inside the Switch 2 led to a permanent ban from going online. The MIG Switch cartridge can hold ROMs from both legal and illegal origins, but Nintendo doesn't seem to be interested in tolerating either source. Once a Switch 2 console is flagged for using a MIG Switch, the ban can't be reversed because the cartridge violates Nintendo's terms of service.
Perhaps as a warning to other copyright infringers, Nintendo went the extra mile to track down an alleged Switch pirate last year. That individual was accused of selling hardware hacks and offering modified Switch consoles with pirated games.
In 2020, Switch pirate Gary Bowser was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 40 months in prison. Despite securing an early release for good behavior, Bowser is still on the hook for Nintendo's multi-million judgment against him. Bowser has also claimed that his case was used as an example to deter other Switch pirates from continuing their illegal activities.
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According to Kotaku, the FBI's message notes that Nsw2u was seized as part of a law enforcement operation that involved the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service, a Dutch government agency that handles financial crimes. The warrant for the takedown was issued from a US District Court in Georgia.
Nintendo hasn't been shy about its increased efforts to combat piracy, especially since the launch of Switch 2 last month. Several users found out the hard way that placing an MIG Switch cartridge inside the Switch 2 led to a permanent ban from going online. The MIG Switch cartridge can hold ROMs from both legal and illegal origins, but Nintendo doesn't seem to be interested in tolerating either source. Once a Switch 2 console is flagged for using a MIG Switch, the ban can't be reversed because the cartridge violates Nintendo's terms of service.
Perhaps as a warning to other copyright infringers, Nintendo went the extra mile to track down an alleged Switch pirate last year. That individual was accused of selling hardware hacks and offering modified Switch consoles with pirated games.
In 2020, Switch pirate Gary Bowser was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 40 months in prison. Despite securing an early release for good behavior, Bowser is still on the hook for Nintendo's multi-million judgment against him. Bowser has also claimed that his case was used as an example to deter other Switch pirates from continuing their illegal activities.
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