A significant website known for distributing pirated Nintendo Switch games has been seized by the FBI. NSW2U.com, once a hub for illegal game copies, now displays only a single image containing a message from the FBI, informing visitors that the domain has been confiscated. This move is the latest in a series of efforts by Nintendo to crack down on piracy in the gaming world, and follows their recent tactic of bricking Switch 2 consoles that used devices enabling piracy. The FBI’s statement on the seized website reads, ‘This domain has been seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in accordance with a seizure warrant issued pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 2323.’ The action is part of an ongoing international law enforcement operation involving the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD), hinting at possible connections to the Netherlands.
Access to the site had already been blocked in several European countries earlier this year, and now it appears that the site is permanently offline.
Nintendo has long been proactive in tackling piracy, seeking hefty fines and criminal sentences for those involved in distributing pirated games. However, the company’s most recent approach-brick-ing Switch 2 consoles tied to piracy devices-has raised some controversy. While some argue that the move protects intellectual property, others have criticized it for affecting legitimate second-hand buyers. In one reported incident, a user’s second-hand Switch was bricked after purchasing a game from Facebook Marketplace, with Nintendo refusing to assist even when the buyer showed proof of purchase. As Nintendo continues to battle piracy, questions remain about the fairness and effectiveness of its tactics.
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