Watch out! Nintendo is cracking down on using secondhand cartridges with the Switch 2

As more gamers are finally getting their hands on a brand new Switch 2 console, Nintendo seems to be cracking down harder on piracy. In recent news (via Reddit), it was discovered that a user had purchased four original Nintendo Switch game cartridges from a seller on Facebook Marketplace in good faith, only to find that after inserting each one separately into their Switch 2 console for patching overnight, that Nintendo had banned their account the following day, with online services also restricted.

The user, dmanthey, shared their experience in the r/Switch thread to warn other Switch 2 users not to buy used Switch 1 games (even though Nintendo already confirmed its new console was fully backwards compatible). Confused? I was too. But it seems the reason this gamer had their account banned was a mistake on Nintendo's part, due to believing that the user had been intentionally installing pirated games.

This can happen when the original owner of a game duplicates a game onto another storage device for piracy purposes, and then proceeds to sell the physical cartridge to someone else. But what's even more concerning is that Nintendo has a unique identification number embedded into a game's data, to allow the company to detect if a game is being loaded simultaneously in more than one location.

This unique identifier can be used to track down counterfeit copies of games and prevent piracy, but it also raises questions about the legitimacy of secondhand gaming. I recently shared a Switch 2 game hack encouraging Switch owners to buy a cheaper secondhand version of a title to get the Switch 2 enhanced upgrade for a lesser cost.

While I thought this was solid advice at the time (I swear I didn't know), this could prove problematic if you buy the cartridge from a wrongun who has duplicated it first. The incident highlights the importance of being cautious when purchasing secondhand games, and ensuring that they are legitimate copies.

Fortunately for dmanthey, they were able to contact Nintendo right away to set things straight, talking to a real human (a luxury you rarely get nowadays) to provide proof of purchase and get their Nintendo account reinstated. Nearly all of my current Nintendo Switch games were purchased secondhand, so it's worrying to think that by the time I purchase a Switch 2, these games could land me in trouble out of the blue.

The new Switch 2 console game prices (up to $80) would usually prompt me to purchase a secondhand Switch game without hesitation. However, I don't blame Nintendo at all for trying to protect its intellectual Property and clamp down on piracy. It seems the company is also targeting well-known online emulation sites and criminal marketplaces, given that the FBI has recently seized nsw2u, with further authorisation granted to seize other sites including game-2u.com, ps4pkg.net, and mgnetu.com.

If there's anything to take away from this, it's that there's nothing illegal about purchasing a secondhand copy of a game; however, you should consider where you buy your cartridges from carefully, keep your receipts, and be cautious that Nintendo could ban your account at any given time if your cartridges have been cloned.

Conclusion

While it's understandable that Nintendo wants to protect its intellectual Property, this crackdown on secondhand gaming raises concerns about the legitimacy of used games. As a gamer who has purchased many secondhand titles in the past, I'm now more cautious than ever when buying used games.

If you're considering purchasing a Switch 2 console, be sure to do your research and only buy from reputable sellers. And if you do happen to purchase a used game, make sure it's legitimate and not a counterfeit copy. With the rise of online emulation sites and pirate marketplaces, it's more important than ever to be vigilant about the games we buy and play.

Join us for unlimited access

Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription, and try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1. Join now for unlimited access to all our content, including daily design news, reviews, how-tos, and more.

About the author

Beth is Creative Bloq's Ecommerce Writer and has the fun job of finding you the very best prices and deals on creative tech. Beth kicked off her journalistic career writing for Digital Camera World and has since earned bylines on TechRadar and PetsRadar too.