FBI Shuts Down Major Nintendo Switch Piracy Site in Joint Operation

FBI Shuts Down Major Nintendo Switch Piracy Site in Joint Operation In a significant development in the battle against game piracy, Nintendo has received a powerful boost from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which has seized one of the largest known Nintendo Switch piracy sites, NSW2U.

This action, executed in partnership with the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD), underscores Nintendo's persistent and vigorous efforts to protect its intellectual property, a cause the company has championed for decades. NSW2U earned notoriety as a leading repository for Nintendo Switch ROMs, frequently distributing major titles ahead of their official releases.

The most recent and high-profile example involved The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which reportedly appeared on the site prior to hitting physical or digital shelves—causing significant concern among both Nintendo and its development partners over unauthorized distribution and early gameplay leaks. On June 19, 2024, visitors to NSW2U were met not with a library of download links, but with a seizure banner.

The notice, acting under the authority of a seizure warrant issued by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, states the website and its domain were confiscated as part of an official law enforcement operation led by the FBI and FIOD.

"This domain has been seized as part of a coordinated operation between U.S.

and Dutch authorities, enforcing U.S.C.

2323 and reinforcing intellectual property law," the seizure message said.

The swift takedown follows reports from the morning that users could still access and download materials from the site—a situation that changed rapidly as the warrant came into effect. Nintendo remains one of the most proactive companies when it comes to fighting piracy and emulation, frequently collaborating with law enforcement and international agencies to identify and dismantle illegal distribution networks.

NSW2U's role as a leading distributor of unauthorized Nintendo Switch content earned it a spot on the European Union piracy watchlist as recently as May 2024.

The latest operation highlights the increased cooperation between gaming industry stakeholders and law enforcement to address piracy at a global scale. While there is no direct confirmation that Nintendo formally requested the FBI's intervention in this particular operation, the company has previously provided technical and evidentiary support in similar cases.

The takedown is viewed by legal experts as part of a broader and more aggressive international strategy to preserve revenue streams for developers and ensure that Nintendo Switch titles, whether through the Switch eShop or retail outlets, remain secure against illicit distribution. This seizure marks a major milestone in Nintendo's ongoing campaign to curb piracy across its platforms.

For developers, publishers, and players alike, the operation signals a heightened commitment to maintaining the integrity of the Nintendo Switch ecosystem and protecting the value of every game released on the platform.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch FBI NSW2U FIOD United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia Kotaku Reddit The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom