FBI Shuts Down One of the Largest Nintendo Switch Piracy Sites, Nsw2u

FBI and Dutch Authorities Shut Down Major Nintendo Switch Piracy Sites in Coordinated Takedown

U.S. authorities, in a coordinated effort with Dutch law enforcement, have shut down NSW2U.com, a prominent website that distributed pirated Nintendo Switch game ROMs. The FBI, collaborating with the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD), seized the site on Thursday under a court order from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. This operation targeted a major source of pirated content, as NSW2U.com notably offered games even before their official release dates. The operation resulted in the shutdown of several domains, including NSW2U.com, Game2u.com, Bigngame.com, NSWDL, and ps4pkg.com. These platforms collectively offered thousands of pirated game downloads, which users accessed for emulators or modified Nintendo Switch consoles. The FIOD’s involvement supported this coordinated takedown. The FBI’s recent operation against NSW2U.com has generated significant buzz within the gaming industry. This move, however, was not specifically discussed in a recent blog post. Whether this action leads to criminal charges and convictions remains to be seen, but it could have long-term effects on domain seizures.

FBI Seizes Notorious Nintendo Switch Piracy Site NSW2U.com, Continuing Crackdown on Unauthorized Software Use

Prior to this seizure, NSW2U.com was already on a European piracy site list in May, leading several internet providers in the EU to block its access, according to Torrentfreak. Users attempting to visit the site now encounter a message confirming the FBI’s seizure. This takedown is part of Nintendo’s ongoing, intensified efforts against unauthorized software use since the launch of the Nintendo Switch. The company has demonstrated its firm stance through various legal actions and warnings. For instance, last year, the well-known Yuzu emulator was shut down following a $2.4 million settlement agreement with Nintendo. Earlier this year, Nintendo also secured a significant legal victory against a French file-sharing company, a decision deemed important for the video game sector. Nintendo has consistently warned users of potential consequences for piracy, including the permanent blocking of consoles.

Nintendo’s Anti-Piracy Strategy Expands Beyond Nsw2u Shutdown

In the context of Nintendo’s ongoing policy against unauthorized software use, the company has also been bricking new Switch 2 consoles that use Flash card devices designed for piracy; this isn’t something the blog post explicitly mentions, but it is part of Nintendo’s broader strategy. Additionally, legal trouble has arisen from a Brazilian authority over Nintendo’s methods to combat piracy, a detail that also is not present in the blog post. Meanwhile, IGN has sought further details from Nintendo regarding the website’s closure and any planned future actions against those involved in running it.