Video Game Piracy Enters New Era as Japan Arrests Its First Alleged Modder of Nintendo Switch Consoles

Japanese authorities have made a landmark arrest in the fight against video game piracy. For the first time, a suspect has been apprehended for modifying Nintendo Switch consoles to play pirated games.

According to NTV News, a 58-year-old man was arrested on January 15th for violating Japan's Trademark Act. He allegedly altered used Switch consoles by soldering modified components onto the circuit boards, enabling them to run illegally copied games. Authorities claim he pre-loaded 27 pirated titles onto each console before selling them for approximately ¥28,000 ($180 USD) apiece. The suspect has confessed to the charges, and investigations are ongoing to determine if further offenses occurred.

This arrest highlights the escalating battle against video game piracy. Nintendo, a frequent target, launched a takedown notice in May 2024 impacting 8,500 copies of the Yuzu Switch emulator, following its removal two months prior. Their initial lawsuit against the emulator's creator, Tropic Haze, cited the unauthorized distribution of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, claiming over one million pirated copies circulated before its official release.

Legal action against piracy is becoming increasingly prevalent. Past successes include lawsuits against RomUniverse, resulting in $2.1 million in damages to Nintendo in 2021 and over $12 million in 2018. These actions also extended to blocking the Dolphin GameCube and Wii emulator from Steam.

Recently, a Nintendo patent lawyer shed light on the company's anti-piracy strategy. Koji Nishiura, Assistant Manager of the Intellectual Property Division, stated that while emulators themselves aren't inherently illegal, their use for piracy constitutes a violation.