Nintendo Seeks Default Judgment in Switch Emulator Lawsuit Against 'Every Game Guru'
Entry information
Published on: April 23, 2025
Description
Nintendo of America is taking significant legal action against Jesse Keighin, known online as 'Every Game Guru,' over allegations of streaming illegally obtained Nintendo Switch games and promoting emulation tools on social media platforms.
Originally reported in November 2024, the case centers on Keighin's activities that allegedly involved the unauthorized distribution and public endorsement of Switch emulators, as well as sharing links to repositories hosting pirated game ROMs before official game releases.
According to recently filed court documents in the District Court for the District of Colorado, Keighin has not responded to Nintendo’s legal complaints.
In response, Nintendo is now requesting a default judgment from the court.
The company seeks $17,500 in statutory damages and a permanent injunction barring Keighin from engaging in any further infringing activities.
Additionally, Nintendo aims to require the destruction of any circumvention devices—hardware or software—that Keighin may possess.
The lawsuit specifically details that prior to official release dates, Keighin emulated and livestreamed at least ten distinct Nintendo Switch games on multiple occasions, with these broadcasts occurring over the last two years.
The court documentation identifies one prominent title—'Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door'—as a representative work used to calculate damages.
Nintendo requests $10,000 in statutory damages for copyright infringement related to that game alone.
The company also seeks $7,500 for violations associated with bypassing technological protection measures, addressing fifteen separate instances of trafficking in circumvention technology.
This brings Nintendo's total damages claim to $17,500.
A Nintendo spokesperson, paraphrased for clarity, noted in the filings that the measures are intended both to secure fair compensation and to uphold the company’s intellectual property rights and the integrity of the Nintendo Switch platform.
By targeting the distribution of emulation technology and unauthorized content ahead of scheduled releases, Nintendo aims to deter similar violations within the gaming community.
This legal move underscores Nintendo’s ongoing campaign to protect its hardware, such as the wildly successful Nintendo Switch, and its vast catalog of first-party titles from piracy and unauthorized emulation.
The combination of legal recourse and technological defenses continues to play a critical role in Nintendo’s strategy, especially as digital distribution via the Nintendo eShop and promotional events like Nintendo Directs expand the company’s user base and developer partnerships.
The outcome of this case may set important precedents for how the industry handles piracy, emulation, and the trafficking of circumvention devices.
The gaming community and developers alike will be watching closely as the court considers Nintendo's default judgment request.
