Nintendo has secured a major legal victory in its fight against video game piracy, winning a $2 million judgment against the operator of a Nintendo Switch modding website. The case centered on Ryan Daly, who ran the now-defunct Modded Hardware site, which sold devices designed to bypass the Switch’s security protections. Among the products offered was the MIG Switch flashcart, a tool that allowed users to play games without owning the original cartridges. While such devices can theoretically be used for legitimate backups, Nintendo argued they were primarily intended for piracy, causing significant harm to the company’s business.
As part of the court’s permanent injunction, Daly must pay $2 million in damages to Nintendo, shut down the Modded Hardware website, and transfer its domain to the company. He is also permanently barred from creating, selling, or promoting any devices or services that circumvent Nintendo’s security measures, and must surrender and destroy any remaining modding equipment in his possession.
This case is the latest in a series of aggressive legal actions by Nintendo to protect its intellectual property. In 2024, the company reached a $2.4 million settlement with the developers of the Yuzu emulator, forcing them to cease operations. Other high-profile cases, such as the prosecution of hacker Gary Bowser, have resulted in multi million ollar penalties and even prison sentences. Nintendo has also implemented technical measures to combat piracy, including the ability to remotely disable consoles found running unauthorized software.
The ruling sends a strong message to the modding and piracy communities that Nintendo will pursue legal action against those who facilitate the unauthorized distribution of its games. While some critics argue that such measures can also impact legitimate modding and preservation efforts, Nintendo maintains that protecting its intellectual property is essential to sustaining its business. With the anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2, the company appears determined to keep its next generation hardware as secure as possible from the outset.
