In a significant blow to video game piracy, the FBI has taken down NSw2u, one of the internet's largest sources of illegal Nintendo Switch ROMs. The seizure occurred in mid-July following an international investigation involving Dutch authorities.

The Nintendo Switch's vulnerability to piracy became apparent unusually quickly after its 2017 launch. A hardware flaw in the Nvidia Tegra X1 chip enabled early jailbreaks, with the first public exploit emerging less than a year after release. This vulnerability, combined with the chip's well-documented architecture, allowed rapid development of both hacking tools and emulators.

According to cached site data, NSw2u had been operating since at least December 2020 before its sudden shutdown on July 10. Visitors to the domain now encounter an FBI seizure notice citing U.S. Code 2323, with the warrant issued by Georgia's Northern District Court.

The takedown involved cooperation with the FIOD, a Dutch financial crimes unit, suggesting possible operator connections to the Netherlands. This action comes as Nintendo intensifies anti-piracy efforts ahead of its next-generation console launch.

Nintendo has consistently argued in legal proceedings that piracy significantly impacts its revenue. Earlier this year, the company sued Tropic Haze, developers of the Yuzu emulator, alleging substantial financial damages from unauthorized game distribution.

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