Nintendo Wins $2 Million Settlement, Bans Switch Modder

Nintendo has secured a significant legal victory against Ryan Michael Daly, owner of Modded Hardware, for selling devices such as the MiG Switch that bypass Nintendo Switch security to enable piracy. The U.S. federal court ordered Daly to pay $2 million in damages and issued a permanent injunction banning him from selling or possessing modchips, flashcarts, or other circumvention tools, while transferring his website to Nintendo and mandating seizure and destruction of modding devices. Daly, who initially denied involvement and represented himself without a lawyer, was found in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and federal copyright law. This ruling follows Nintendo's similar $2.4 million settlement against Tropic Haze, creators of the Yuzu emulator, and reflects Nintendo's ongoing aggressive stance against piracy and console modification. The company has also updated its account agreement to allow permanent disabling of unauthorized modified consoles, signaling intensified efforts to protect its intellectual property ahead of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. The case highlights Nintendo's commitment to combating piracy through legal action and partnerships with law enforcement agencies.