The Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) has seized Nsw2u, one of the popular piracy websites for Nintendo Switch games. A seizure message is now displayed on the site’s homepage, stating the action was carried out under a warrant from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The operation also involved the FIOD, the Dutch financial crime investigation agency.
Nsw2u had become a popular hub for Switch ROMs—game files used for running pirated games on modified consoles or PC-based emulators. According to posts on the Switch Piracy subreddit, users were still able to access and download games from the site just hours before it was taken down on Thursday, July 10.
The site was added to the European Union’s piracy watchlist earlier this year in May. The FBI and Nintendo have not responded to media requests for comments on the seizure.
What the seizure notice on website reads
“This domain has been seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in accordance with a seizure warrant issued pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 2323... as part of a law enforcement operation and action by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” reads the notice currently visible on the Nsw2u website. The message further confirms participation by the FIOD in the international crackdown.
Nintendo’s crackdown on piracy
Nintendo has intensified its efforts to curb piracy in recent years. In 2023, it took legal action against the creators of the Yuzu emulator, which allowed users to play Switch games on PCs and handhelds like the Steam Deck. The company also targeted smaller ROM-hosting websites and device makers that help bypass copyright protection on the Switch.
Since the launch of the new Switch 2 console last month, players using unauthorized storage tools have reportedly been banned from online services.
Nsw2u had become a popular hub for Switch ROMs—game files used for running pirated games on modified consoles or PC-based emulators. According to posts on the Switch Piracy subreddit, users were still able to access and download games from the site just hours before it was taken down on Thursday, July 10.
The site was added to the European Union’s piracy watchlist earlier this year in May. The FBI and Nintendo have not responded to media requests for comments on the seizure.
What the seizure notice on website reads
“This domain has been seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in accordance with a seizure warrant issued pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 2323... as part of a law enforcement operation and action by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” reads the notice currently visible on the Nsw2u website. The message further confirms participation by the FIOD in the international crackdown.
Nintendo’s crackdown on piracy
Nintendo has intensified its efforts to curb piracy in recent years. In 2023, it took legal action against the creators of the Yuzu emulator, which allowed users to play Switch games on PCs and handhelds like the Steam Deck. The company also targeted smaller ROM-hosting websites and device makers that help bypass copyright protection on the Switch.
Since the launch of the new Switch 2 console last month, players using unauthorized storage tools have reportedly been banned from online services.
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