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Added a basic definition and linked a few things. I do not think I did a very good job though, to be completely honest.
 
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A device being "[https://foundershield.com/insurance-terms/definition/bricking/#:~:text=Bricking%20is%20a%20term%20that,which%20renders%20the%20device%20useless. Bricked]" means the device has been rendered entirely unusable. The act of "Device Bricking" is specifically a company-side action meant to prevent a consumer from using a device they purchased if they attempt to do anything that [https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-revises-user-agreement-and-if-you-break-it-nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-switch#:~:text=You%20acknowledge%20that%20if%20you%20fail%20to%20comply%20with%20the%20foregoing%20restrictions%20Nintendo%20may%20render%20the%20Nintendo%20Account%20Services%20and/or%20the%20applicable%20Nintendo%20device%20permanently%20unusable%20in%20whole%20or%20in%20part.%22 goes against the terms of service the company sets] for their devices, seen from the release of the Switch 2 from [[Nintendo]]. The act is intended to prevent "[https://www.techopedia.com/definition/10649/homebrew Homebrewed]" devices from being created and to try to discourage piracy and hacking.
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A "[https://foundershield.com/insurance-terms/definition/bricking/#:~:text=Bricking%20is%20a%20term%20that,which%20renders%20the%20device%20useless. Bricked]" device is a device which has had its main functions rendered unusable, such a device is commonly refereed to as a brick. Companies reserve the right to remotely brick a consumers device if they attempt to do anything that [https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-revises-user-agreement-and-if-you-break-it-nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-switch#:~:text=You%20acknowledge%20that%20if%20you%20fail%20to%20comply%20with%20the%20foregoing%20restrictions%20Nintendo%20may%20render%20the%20Nintendo%20Account%20Services%20and/or%20the%20applicable%20Nintendo%20device%20permanently%20unusable%20in%20whole%20or%20in%20part.%22 goes against the terms of service the company sets] for their devices. A recent example of this can be seen from the release of the Switch 2 from [[Nintendo]].
 
A company may justify "Bricking" a consumers device for "safety concerns". With intent to discourage "[https://www.techopedia.com/definition/10649/homebrew Homebrewed]" devices (devices with unofficial, third-party or user-created modifications) from being created and to try preventing piracy and hacking. Usually with financial incentives.
 
Device bricking occurs commonly as a result of [[Planned obsolescence]], where a company's goal is to force the consumer to buy new and replace the old product, now rendered unusable.
 
==Recent cases of Device bricking==
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|June 2025 - Ongoing
|Nintendo
|EULA violation
|All games not fully downloaded prior rendered unplayable<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-07-27 |title=What does a banned Switch 2 ACTUALLY mean? |url=https://youtu.be/MqFY3rICDWs?si=T3lLrbrbUH7CUT39 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=YouTube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=MqFY3rICDWs |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref>, online features disabled
|In a May 2025 policy update, Nintendo stated they may ''"render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part."''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-20 |title=Nintendo Account User Agreement |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/eula/US?lang=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513142857/https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/eula/US?lang=en-US |archive-date=2025-05-13 |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=Nintendo Official Site}}</ref>
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Latest revision as of 20:35, 16 March 2026

❗Article Status Notice: This Article is a stub

This article is underdeveloped, and needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues. Learn more ▼

A "Bricked" device is a device which has had its main functions rendered unusable, such a device is commonly refereed to as a brick. Companies reserve the right to remotely brick a consumers device if they attempt to do anything that goes against the terms of service the company sets for their devices. A recent example of this can be seen from the release of the Switch 2 from Nintendo.

A company may justify "Bricking" a consumers device for "safety concerns". With intent to discourage "Homebrewed" devices (devices with unofficial, third-party or user-created modifications) from being created and to try preventing piracy and hacking. Usually with financial incentives.

Device bricking occurs commonly as a result of Planned obsolescence, where a company's goal is to force the consumer to buy new and replace the old product, now rendered unusable.

Recent cases of Device bricking

[edit | edit source]
Time of incident Company name Reason Effects Details
June 2025 - Ongoing Nintendo EULA violation All games not fully downloaded prior rendered unplayable[1], online features disabled In a May 2025 policy update, Nintendo stated they may "render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part."[2]
  1. ↑ "What does a banned Switch 2 ACTUALLY mean?". YouTube. 2025-07-27. Archived from the original on 16 Feb 2026. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
  2. ↑ "Nintendo Account User Agreement". Nintendo Official Site. 2025-08-20. Archived from the original on 2025-05-13. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
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