FBI Shuts Down Site for Pirated Nintendo Switch Games

International operation targets popular ROM distribution platform.

A popular website known for offering downloadable, pirated **Nintendo** Switch games has been seized by law enforcement, marking a significant victory in the fight against software piracy.

End of the Line for NSW2U

The **FBI**, in collaboration with the Dutch Federal Information and Investigation Service (**FIOD**), successfully shut down NSW2U, a notorious site used to illegally download **Nintendo** Switch games. Now, accessing the domain leads to a seizure notice.

NSW2U and its associated domains had been on Europe’s radar as pirate sites since May. The takedown represents a major blow to the distribution of pirated games for the console.

Nintendo’s Anti-Piracy Efforts

**Nintendo** has a reputation for aggressively combating any activity resembling the hacking or pirating of its games. While the company has yet to comment officially, it is expected they are pleased with the outcome of the investigation.

**Nintendo** actively pursues legal action against those who infringe on its copyright. In 2021, the company won a $2.1 million judgment against a couple who ran a website distributing pirated **Nintendo** games (The Verge 2021).

Online Reaction

News of the site’s closure quickly spread across social media, including **Reddit**, where users in the r/PiratedGames community lamented its demise. Despite the disappointment, some users pointed out that other sources for pirated games remain available.

Cracking a console is often only the first step. Downloading ROMs, the game copies, is the next goal. Authorities fighting piracy are always trying to shut down the most used platforms.

While this takedown disrupts one source of pirated games, the broader challenge of combating software piracy persists. More illegal distribution sites will likely emerge.