The FBI has seized a network of websites accused of distributing pirated Nintendo Switch games and other console software, shutting down a piracy infrastructure that officials say resulted in $170 million in losses. Among the sites taken offline was NSW2U.com, a prominent source for illegal Switch game downloads.
The enforcement action, led by the FBI's Atlanta field office, targeted seven domains allegedly used to host and facilitate access to ROM files, many of which were leaked prior to official release dates. The seizure banners posted on the domains cite a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
"These domains hosted and facilitated access to the pirated video games," the FBI stated. "Anyone visiting these sites will now view a seizure banner that notifies them the domain has been seized by federal authorities."
The investigation involved international cooperation, including the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD), a Dutch agency specializing in financial crimes. The presence of the FIOD logo on the seizure notice indicates suspected ties between the site operators and entities in the Netherlands. NSW2U had already been blacklisted in the European Union before the FBI's intervention.
The affected websites-nsw2u.com, nswdl.com, game-2u.com, bigngame.com, ps4pkg.com, ps4pkg.net, and mgnetu.com-accumulated over 3.2 million downloads between February 28 and May 28, according to the FBI.
Nintendo has intensified its anti-piracy efforts in recent years, aggressively pursuing legal action against ROM-sharing platforms and individuals promoting emulation. In 2023, the company filed a lawsuit against a streamer accused of showcasing pirated games. Earlier this year, emulator developer Yuzu paid $2.4 million to settle similar claims.
