Overview

• Fumihiro Otobe, a 58-year-old transportation businessman, was convicted by the Kochi District Court for modifying and selling Nintendo Switch consoles capable of running pirated games.
• Otobe received a two-year prison sentence suspended for three years, alongside a fine of 500,000 yen (approximately $3,500 USD).
• The modified consoles, sold for roughly $195 USD, were bundled with 27 pirated games, offering a cheaper alternative to new official hardware.
• This marks the first instance in Japan of an individual being arrested and punished for console modding and piracy, highlighting Nintendo's aggressive legal stance on intellectual property protection.
• The case draws parallels to previous high-profile piracy actions, including Gary Bowser's conviction and settlements with emulator developers, emphasizing the ongoing global battle against video game piracy.