Nintendo Intensifies Crackdown on Switch Piracy

In its relentless fight against piracy, Nintendo shows no signs of slowing down. The gaming giant is expanding its crackdown on individuals allegedly involved in pirating activities, especially those linked to the infamous modder, James “Archbox” Williams. This aggressive move came to light following Nintendo’s recent legal action against a prominent Switch modder accused of facilitating game piracy.

Nintendo has long been embroiled in legal battles to safeguard its intellectual property. The company frequently leverages the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to target leakers and eliminate websites distributing ROMs and emulators of its games and consoles. Earlier this year, they settled a major lawsuit, agreeing to a $2.4 million payout from Tropic Haze, the creators of the Yuzu Switch emulator, which has since been pulled. Notably, Tropic Haze maintained its stance against game piracy even as the emulator project shut down.

Even with a jam-packed schedule in the courtroom, Nintendo’s legal team isn’t hitting pause anytime soon. They’re determined to keep issuing more legal notices. Documents from a US district court in Washington state—and backed by Stephen Totilo from Game File—reveal that Nintendo is now pursuing other individuals linked to piracy following an investigation into Williams, a known figure in the scene. Williams, who moderated the SwitchPirates subreddit boasting over 216,000 members, was previously hit with a default judgment after failing to defend himself in court. Nintendo is also requesting to subpoena business records from platforms like Reddit, Discord, GitHub, and others to pursue Williams’ alleged accomplices.

The US district court filing underscores Nintendo’s ongoing efforts to root out individuals suspected of piracy. They’re closely eyeing those connected to James “Archbox” Williams, who faces piracy and copyright infringement charges. He lost a default judgment as he couldn’t defend himself in court. To deepen their probe, Nintendo seeks access to records from sites such as Reddit, Discord, and GitHub.

In June 2024, when Williams faced his lawsuit, Nintendo also went after Modded Hardware for selling MIG Switch devices loaded with pirated Nintendo games. Despite receiving a cease and desist notice back in March, Modded Hardware’s leader, Ryan Daly, continued his operations until legal action was inevitable.

With multiple courtroom victories under its belt, Nintendo has made it clear it won’t stand for piracy. As the launch of their next console approaches, the effectiveness of Nintendo’s unyielding pursuit remains to be seen.

The ongoing battle against piracy highlights Nintendo’s commitment to protecting its creative assets. As the next generation of consoles looms, the company’s legal strategies will undoubtedly continue to play a crucial role in shaping the industry’s future landscape.