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

Japanese police have made a landmark arrest, apprehending a 58-year-old man for modifying Nintendo Switch consoles to play pirated games. This marks the first time someone has been arrested in Japan for this specific hardware modification offense, highlighting a new phase in the fight against video game piracy.

According to NTV News, the man was arrested on January 15th for violating Japan's Trademark Act. He allegedly modified used Switch consoles by welding altered circuit boards, enabling them to run pirated software. Each modified console, loaded with 27 illegally obtained games, was sold for approximately ¥28,000 ($180 USD). The suspect has confessed to the charges, and further investigations are underway to determine the extent of his activities.

This arrest underscores the ongoing battle between video game companies and piracy. Nintendo, a frequent target, recently issued a takedown request for 8,500 copies of the Switch emulator Yuzu in May 2024, following the emulator's shutdown two months prior. Their initial lawsuit against creator Tropic Haze cited the staggering figure of one million pirated copies of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom before its official release.

Legal action against piracy is intensifying. Previous successful lawsuits include those against RomUniverse, resulting in $2.1 million in damages to Nintendo in 2021 and over $12 million in 2018. These legal victories also extended to blocking the popular GameCube and Wii emulator, Dolphin, from the Steam platform.

Recently, Koji Nishiura, Nintendo's Assistant Manager of the Intellectual Property Division, shed light on the company's strategy regarding piracy and emulation. He clarified that while emulators themselves aren't inherently illegal, their use can become illegal depending on how they are employed, particularly in relation to the unauthorized distribution and playing of copyrighted games.