Nintendo has ramped up its crackdown on piracy, targeting emulator developers, ROM hosting sites, and modification services as part of a broader anti-piracy campaign.

This intensified effort coincides with the launch of the new Switch 2 in June 2025, which features enhanced anti-piracy measures capable of banning devices using unauthorized ROMs.

On July 10, 2025, the FBI, in collaboration with the Netherlands' FIOD and other international agencies, seized control of Nsw2u, one of the largest Nintendo Switch piracy websites, which was still operational until shortly before the takedown.

The operation was executed under a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, reflecting a coordinated global law enforcement effort to combat digital copyright infringement.

Nsw2u served as a major hub for distributing Nintendo Switch ROMs, allowing users to play pirated games on modified consoles or emulators, thereby impacting Nintendo's revenue.

Nintendo's legal actions have included winning a multi-million dollar settlement against Yuzu emulator creators, which facilitated playing Switch games on PCs, and pursuing legal victories against ROM hosting sites.

Users have been warned that using devices like the MIG Switch cartridge, which can store both legal and illegal ROMs, may result in a permanent online ban on the Switch 2.

Prominent Switch pirate Gary Bowser, arrested in 2020, received a 40-month prison sentence and remains liable for a multi-million dollar judgment from Nintendo, serving as a warning to others.

Despite the seizure notice, reports indicated that the site was still operational and offering recent game downloads until shortly before the takedown, highlighting law enforcement's meticulous surveillance.

Nintendo has actively tracked down and accused individuals involved in selling hardware hacks and modified consoles with pirated games, intensifying its enforcement efforts.

Unauthorized hardware and software usage on Nintendo devices can lead to bans from online services, with the company taking strict action against violations of its terms of service.

Nintendo's recent legal victories and enforcement actions signal a shift towards more sophisticated detection systems in their latest console generation, aimed at curbing piracy more effectively.