Key Takeaways:
- NSw2u, a top Nintendo Switch ROM site, has been seized by the FBI and Dutch authorities.
- The takedown is part of a broader global effort to curb piracy ahead of the Switch 2 era.
- Nintendo continues aggressive legal action against emulators, ROM sites, and piracy hardware.
One of the internet’s most prominent Nintendo Switch piracy websites, NSw2u, has been seized by the FBI in a coordinated international law enforcement operation. The site, which was widely used to download Switch game ROMs for use on hacked consoles or PC emulators, was abruptly taken offline on Thursday.
NSw2u Website Seized by FBI and Dutch Authorities
Visitors to NSw2u’s domain are now met with a stark federal notice stating that the website was seized “in accordance with a seizure warrant issued pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 2323” by a U.S. District Court in Georgia. The takedown was executed by the FBI, with assistance from the Netherlands’ Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD), which investigates financial crimes.
This enforcement action comes just two months after NSw2u was listed on the European Union’s piracy watchlist. According to users in online piracy forums, the site was operational just hours before the seizure, continuing to distribute pirated Nintendo games until the last moment.
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Nintendo’s Legal Crackdown on Piracy Intensifies
Nintendo has ramped up its anti-piracy efforts in recent years, targeting both high-profile emulator developers and ROM-hosting websites. Last year, the company successfully forced the shutdown of the Yuzu emulator, which allowed users to play Switch games on PCs and handhelds like the Steam Deck. Nintendo has also pursued legal action against makers of third-party devices that bypass copyright protections and enable piracy.
The original Switch console was compromised early in its lifecycle, resulting in widespread ROM distribution for top titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. With the recent launch of the Switch 2, Nintendo appears to be doubling down on security. Reports already indicate that the company is banning new Switch 2 consoles using unauthorized SD cards loaded with pirated software.
NSw2u’s Shutdown Sends Clear Message Ahead of Switch 2 Era
The takedown of NSw2u marks a significant victory for Nintendo as it prepares for a new generation of hardware. By collaborating with global law enforcement, Nintendo signals its continued intolerance for piracy and its intent to protect its intellectual property.
Neither the FBI nor Nintendo has issued an official statement following the NSw2u seizure. However, the message to ROM distribution sites and emulator communities is clear: the era of lax enforcement is over.
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