Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
5d ago

Nintendo's New Policy Allows Remote Disabling of Switch Consoles for Rule Violations

The updated User Account Agreement enables Nintendo to render Switch and Switch 2 devices permanently unusable if unauthorized modifications or software are detected.

Nintendo is threatening a nuclear option for people who play pirated games on their Switch.
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • Nintendo's revised User Account Agreement, effective May 7, 2025, includes a clause allowing the company to remotely disable consoles for unauthorized software use or hardware tampering.
  • The policy applies to both the current Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, set to launch on June 5, 2025.
  • Over 100 changes were introduced in the latest agreement, including expanded suspension rights and stricter anti-piracy measures targeting hacking and emulation.
  • Consumer rights advocates have raised concerns over ownership implications, as the policy frames hardware use as licensed rather than fully owned by purchasers.
  • Nintendo's move reflects a shift from legal actions against piracy to direct device-level enforcement, following a recent legal precedent in Japan where a modder received a two-year prison sentence.