Japan Arrests First Alleged Nintendo Switch Modder Amid Rising Video Game Piracy Concerns

On January 15, Japanese authorities made their first-ever arrest of the suspect accused of selling modified Nintendo Switch hardware and alleged violations of the Trademark Act.

According to reports from NTV News, the man is accused of altering second-hand Nintendo Switch consoles by welding modified parts to their circuit boards, enabling them to run pirated games. The consoles were reportedly preloaded with 27 pirated titles and sold for ¥28,000 (approximately $180) each. The suspect has admitted to the charges and is under investigation for further potential violations.

Video game piracy is a persistent issue for companies like Nintendo, which has long advocated for stricter enforcement to protect its intellectual property. In 2024, Nintendo successfully removed 8,500 copies of the Switch emulator Yuzu after alleging it facilitated the piracy of major titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo’s flagship game reportedly faced over one million instances of piracy before its official launch.

Other notable Nintendo legal victories include a $2.1 million judgment against the file-sharing site RomUniverse in 2021 and a $12 million case in 2018 targeting large-scale piracy operations. Nintendo has also taken preventive measures against emulation, such as blocking the release of the GameCube and Wii emulator Dolphin on the PC platform Steam.

Emulation remains a contentious issue in gaming, as its legality depends heavily on its use. Koji Nishiura, Assistant Manager of Nintendo’s Intellectual Property Division, emphasized this distinction, stating, “While you can’t immediately claim that an emulator is illegal in itself, it can become illegal depending on how it’s used.” Nintendo’s patent lawyer further highlighted the risks of emulation, explaining how its widespread use could lead to increased software piracy, particularly for high-profile games.