Japan Arrests First Nintendo Switch Modder

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.

The man, arrested on January 15th, is accused of violating Japan's Trademark Act. He allegedly modified second-hand Switch consoles by welding altered circuit boards, enabling them to run 27 illegally obtained games. These modified consoles were then sold for approximately ¥28,000 ($180) each. The suspect has confessed to the charges, and further investigations are underway to determine the full 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 previous lawsuit against Yuzu's creator, Tropic Haze, cited one million pirated copies of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom before its official release.

This case is part of a broader trend of legal action against video game piracy. Past successes include lawsuits against RomUniverse, resulting in over $14 million in damages to Nintendo. Nintendo also successfully blocked the release of the GameCube and Wii emulator Dolphin on Steam.

Recently, Koji Nishiura, Nintendo's Assistant Manager of the Intellectual Property Division, shed light on the company's strategy in combating piracy and emulation. He clarified that while emulators themselves aren't inherently illegal, their use for playing pirated games constitutes a violation. This arrest and Nintendo's ongoing efforts demonstrate the evolving tactics employed to combat the persistent challenge of video game piracy.