After operating for years as a main source for pirated Nintendo Switch games, NSW2U.com has now been shut down by the FBI.
Players who previously used the site to get early access to unreleased games were greeted this week with a clear notice that the domain was seized.
This move was not a routine takedown but the result of an international operation showing how seriously Nintendo piracy is being addressed.
How Far Did the Crackdown Reach?
The takedown of NSW2U was carried out jointly by the FBI and the Dutch FIOD, an agency specializing in financial crimes.
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+ 3The warning on the website states the seizure is based on a court order from the Northern District of Georgia, authorized by U.S. law.
Code 18 §2323, which deals specifically with trafficking in counterfeit goods and services.
Earlier this year, European nations had already identified the site and added it to the EU piracy watchlist. That international pressure likely accelerated the site’s downfall.
The sweep resulted in seven websites being taken offline, including nswdl.com, game-2u.com, bigngame.com, ps4pkg.com, and mgnetu.com, among others.
Not only did these sites host pirated Switch titles, but they also supplied cracked games for PlayStation, PC, and torrent utilities.
As a group, these domains became a large secret marketplace for pirated digital goods.
How Much Did Nintendo Lose from Piracy?
According to the FBI’s data, between February 28 and May 28, 2025, users downloaded content from these piracy sites more than 3.2 million times.
click to enlarge+ 3The agency estimates that this caused more than $170 million in harm, factoring in game sales as well as revenue lost from DLC, pre-orders, and merchandising.
The numbers help explain the urgency behind the crackdown. Piracy was a growing threat to Nintendo’s profits as excitement built for the Nintendo Switch 2, which launched last month.
How Far Is Nintendo Willing to Go to Stop Piracy?
Nintendo’s relationship with piracy has always been aggressive, but the past year has seen the company take it to a new level.
click to enlarge+ 3It had earlier shut down Yuzu and Citra, two leading emulators for Switch and 3DS, and imposed multi-million dollar settlements on their developers.
Switch 2 consoles caught running unauthorized software, especially with Mig cartridges that can fake retail carts or load illegal games, have even been permanently bricked by the company.
Though debated, these anti-piracy measures appear effective. Nintendo is working hard to make sure its latest hardware doesn’t end up like the original Switch, which became one of the most pirated consoles in recent gaming history.
The company is working to stop piracy on all fronts by blending technical controls with legal enforcement.
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