Nintendo Switch piracy sites abruptly taken down by FBI

Nintendo Switch piracy sites that were well-known for ROM downloads are no longer accessible as the FBI has stepped in.

Like other platforms and consoles, piracy is a never-ending issue Nintendo has to deal with in the gaming industry. 

Though since the Nintendo Switch 2 was released, it’s clear that the company has been doubling down in its efforts to combat this problem, with many reporting that their original Switch units, with pirated games, had been permanently banned just last month.

Now, Nsw2u, one of the most popular sites players often used to download Switch ROMS, is gone. Technically, the domain can still be seen on Google; just don’t expect to be directed to its usual home page when you access it.

Some Nintendo piracy sites have been seized and are no longer accessible

At the time of writing, the Nsw2u site has a message saying, “This website has been seized”, right when you look it up. As such, users can no longer access ‘free’ copies of Switch games through the illicit service.

As seen in the message displayed on the site when opened, the site was taken down by the FBI in “accordance with a seizure warrant issued pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 2323 issued by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia as part of a law enforcement operation and action by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

Following its takedown, some players in a Reddit thread have already mourned its departure. As one user put it: “R.I.P. ‘NSW2U’ smh.”

Another user mentioned that game-2u, which reportedly belonged to the same owner of Nsw2u, has also been taken down, showing the exact same message notifying that it has been seized by the FBI.

Nintendo has been stringent regarding Switch 2 usage, as they’re willing to permanently restrict access to the eShop and online services if they find out that anyone has been violating its terms, either by using unauthorized accessories or pirated software.