Nintendo has won a major legal battle, securing a $2 million settlement and a permanent ban against a seller of piracy-enabling devices for the Switch.
Quick Summary – TLDR:
- Nintendo has settled a lawsuit with Modded Hardware’s owner Ryan Daly for $2 million
- Daly sold piracy tools like the MiG Switch flashcart and hacked consoles
- A court permanently banned him from selling or promoting modding tools
- The ruling is part of Nintendo’s aggressive stance against piracy and console modification
What Happened?
Nintendo of America has wrapped up a year-long lawsuit against Ryan Daly, the operator of Modded Hardware, a business known for selling tools that enabled piracy on the Nintendo Switch. Daly has agreed to pay $2 million in damages as part of a final settlement and has been permanently banned from any future involvement with modding devices.
The judgment, issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, also gives Nintendo control of Daly’s website and the right to destroy all remaining modding devices.
A man who sold Nintendo Switch modchips, flashcarts, and pirated games settled a lawsuit with Nintendo, agreeing to pay $2 million.
— Pirat_Nation 🔴 (@Pirat_Nation) September 6, 2025
He initially attempted to defend himself without legal representation.
Under the settlement, he is permanently barred from possessing or… pic.twitter.com/k2QsU6k7mG
Nintendo’s Legal Strike: Another Blow to Modding Scene
Nintendo accused Daly of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and federal copyright law by selling hardware that bypassed the Switch’s built-in security systems. Among the products Daly marketed were the MiG Switch, which let users run pirated games, and the MiG Dumper, which allowed the copying of physical game cartridges to computer storage. He also offered modchips, pre-hacked consoles, and even pirated game titles directly to customers.
According to court documents, Daly initially denied any involvement with Modded Hardware and did not have a lawyer to represent him. Despite his attempts to avoid liability, the court handed down a sweeping injunction:
- Daly must cease all involvement with modding, selling, or distributing piracy-enabling tools
- He is barred from launching or supporting any similar businesses, directly or indirectly
- All websites, products, and marketing materials related to Modded Hardware will be surrendered to Nintendo
- Existing modding devices will be seized and destroyed
A Pattern of Legal Wins for Nintendo
This case adds to a growing list of victories in Nintendo’s fierce campaign to protect its intellectual property. In March 2024, the company settled a lawsuit with Tropic Haze, creators of the Yuzu emulator, for $2.4 million. That lawsuit also ended with a permanent injunction and the shutdown of all related operations.
More recently, Nintendo teamed up with international authorities to shut down NSw2u, a popular site for pirated Switch ROMs, making this summer particularly successful for the company’s anti-piracy enforcement.
In tandem with these legal actions, Nintendo also updated its user agreement, giving itself the power to permanently disable Switch consoles found running unauthorized software. This move comes ahead of the much-anticipated Switch 2 launch and signals Nintendo’s intent to maintain tight control over its ecosystem.
SQ Magazine Takeaway
As someone who’s followed gaming for years, I’ve seen how protective Nintendo can be of its products. This $2 million settlement is not just about punishing one seller, it’s Nintendo sending a loud and clear message to anyone else thinking about tampering with its hardware. Whether you agree with their approach or not, the company is all in when it comes to defending its games and consoles. With Switch 2 just around the corner, I wouldn’t be surprised to see even stricter enforcement ahead. If you’re dabbling in modding for piracy, now might be the time to unplug.
