Nintendo Switch bans: Difference between revisions

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In June of 2025, [[Nintendo Switch|''Nintendo Switch 2'']] owner ''Scattered Brain'' inserted a ''MIG Switch cartridge'' into his console. After an unknown amount of time, his console was banned from accessing all online ''[[Nintendo]]'' services,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Scattered Brain |date=Jun 16, 2025 |title=Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and as he discovered, a significant portion of the console's functionality depends on these online services.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Switch 2 users report online console bans after running personal game “backups” |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |access-date=Jun 19, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref> The following is a non-exhaustive list of the services that a banned [[Nintendo Switch|''Nintendo Switch 2'']] is incapable of accessing:

* Nintendo eShop - This service is required for installing games from [[Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card|game-key cards]], which a majority of physical third-party releases are distributed on.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=Jun 5, 2025 |title=Buying Physical? Watch Out For the Switch 2's Game-Key Cards |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/nintendo-switch-2-game-cards-vs-game-key-cards-vs-downloads-whats-the-difference |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |work=PC Mag}}</ref>

*Nintendo eShop - This service is required for installing games from [[Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card|game-key cards]], which a majority of physical third-party releases are distributed on.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=Jun 5, 2025 |title=Buying Physical? Watch Out For the Switch 2's Game-Key Cards |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/nintendo-switch-2-game-cards-vs-game-key-cards-vs-downloads-whats-the-difference |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |work=PC Mag}}</ref> It also appears that running physical Switch 1 games (like Zelda Breath of The Wild) is impossible as their first launch requires to download retro-compatibility data from Nintendo servers. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Nintendo BRICKS MIG Flash user's Switch 2 - The Difference between banning a Switch and BRICKING it |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn4969P2RIA |website=YouTube}}</ref>.

* Factory resetting - Demonstrated by ''Scattered Brain'', the console is incapable of being factory reset.<ref name=":3" />

*Factory resetting - Demonstrated by ''Scattered Brain'', the console is incapable of being factory reset.<ref name=":3" />

* Account management - The removal of accounts, and the linking of new ''[[Nintendo]] accounts'', is impossible while banned.

*Account management - The removal of accounts, and the linking of new ''[[Nintendo]] accounts'', is impossible while banned.

===Nintendo's response===

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 In June of 2025, [[Nintendo Switch|''Nintendo Switch 2'']] owner ''Scattered Brain'' inserted a ''MIG Switch cartridge'' into his console. After an unknown amount of time, his console was banned from accessing all online ''[[Nintendo]]'' services,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Scattered Brain |date=Jun 16, 2025 |title=Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and as he discovered, a significant portion of the console's functionality depends on these online services.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=Jun 17, 2025 |title=Switch 2 users report online console bans after running personal game “backups” |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/playing-personal-game-backups-could-get-your-switch-2-banned-by-nintendo/ |access-date=Jun 19, 2025 |work=Ars Technica}}</ref> The following is a non-exhaustive list of the services that a banned [[Nintendo Switch|''Nintendo Switch 2'']] is incapable of accessing:
-* Nintendo eShop - This service is required for installing games from [[Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card|game-key cards]], which a majority of physical third-party releases are distributed on.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=Jun 5, 2025 |title=Buying Physical? Watch Out For the Switch 2's Game-Key Cards |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/nintendo-switch-2-game-cards-vs-game-key-cards-vs-downloads-whats-the-difference |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |work=PC Mag}}</ref>
+*Nintendo eShop - This service is required for installing games from [[Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card|game-key cards]], which a majority of physical third-party releases are distributed on.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=Jun 5, 2025 |title=Buying Physical? Watch Out For the Switch 2's Game-Key Cards |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/nintendo-switch-2-game-cards-vs-game-key-cards-vs-downloads-whats-the-difference |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |work=PC Mag}}</ref> It also appears that running physical Switch 1 games (like Zelda Breath of The Wild) is impossible as their first launch requires to download retro-compatibility data from Nintendo servers. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Nintendo BRICKS MIG Flash user's Switch 2 - The Difference between banning a Switch and BRICKING it |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn4969P2RIA |website=YouTube}}</ref>.
-* Factory resetting - Demonstrated by ''Scattered Brain'', the console is incapable of being factory reset.<ref name=":3" />
+*Factory resetting - Demonstrated by ''Scattered Brain'', the console is incapable of being factory reset.<ref name=":3" />
-* Account management - The removal of accounts, and the linking of new ''[[Nintendo]] accounts'', is impossible while banned.
+*Account management - The removal of accounts, and the linking of new ''[[Nintendo]] accounts'', is impossible while banned.
 ===Nintendo's response===