Nintendo's May 2025 Policy Updates: Difference between revisions

Added sources to the background section
Specifically mention the lack of an offline patching feature
 
Line 62: Line 62:
==Consumer response==
==Consumer response==


There has been significant consumer backlash over the changes to these terms, leading many to expect that Nintendo is trying to reserve their right to 'brick' customer's consoles as a measure of policy enforcement,<ref name="RunNGameYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Run N Game Entertainment |date=May 13, 2025 |title=Is Nintendo breaking the law? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOiD-lvaok |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="FashoKangYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Fasho |first=Kang |date=May 11, 2025 |title=The Switch 2 will RUIN Gaming [Full Controversy Explained] (Angry Rant) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P8Pv97mt8U |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="NintenDeenYouTube">{{Cite web |last=NintenDeen |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Console Bans |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1H6cKTNxKM |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="PsybeamYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Psybeam |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo Can Now Permanently Disable Your Switch If You're Found Modding |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG7LoNJcpw8 |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> despite the fact that intentionally rendering a device inoperable would be a violation of consumer protection laws within the United States and European Union. This however does not mean [[Nintendo]] cannot hinge the functionality of the device's software excessively on an online connection to their servers, meaning a ban could render a console functionally useless.  
There has been significant consumer backlash over the changes to these terms, leading many to expect that Nintendo is trying to reserve their right to 'brick' customer's consoles as a measure of policy enforcement,<ref name="RunNGameYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Run N Game Entertainment |date=May 13, 2025 |title=Is Nintendo breaking the law? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOiD-lvaok |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="FashoKangYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Fasho |first=Kang |date=May 11, 2025 |title=The Switch 2 will RUIN Gaming [Full Controversy Explained] (Angry Rant) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P8Pv97mt8U |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="NintenDeenYouTube">{{Cite web |last=NintenDeen |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Console Bans |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1H6cKTNxKM |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="PsybeamYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Psybeam |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo Can Now Permanently Disable Your Switch If You're Found Modding |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG7LoNJcpw8 |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> despite the fact that intentionally rendering a device inoperable would be a violation of consumer protection laws within the United States and European Union. This however does not mean [[Nintendo]] cannot hinge the functionality of the device's software excessively on an online connection to their servers, meaning a ban could render a console functionally useless by restricting access to game patches (which are only installable through a connection to Nintendo's servers, there is no offline patch functionality).  


Concerns were widely reported by major gaming publications. Eurogamer<ref name="EurogamerBricking2025">{{Cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo reserves the right to brick your console following "unauthorised use", in bid to prevent piracy |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-console-following-unauthorised-use-in-bid-to-prevent-piracy |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref> and Game File<ref name="GameFileEffectiveDate" /> were among the outlets<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCrae |first=Scott |date=8 May 2025 |title=New Nintendo of America policy asks users to give up their rights to a class-action lawsuit and call customer service instead: "Most matters can be quickly resolved in this manner" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/nintendo/new-nintendo-of-america-policy-asks-users-to-give-up-their-rights-to-a-class-action-lawsuit-and-call-customer-service-instead-most-matters-can-be-quickly-resolved-in-this-manner/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=GamesRadar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=10 May 2025 |title=PC gaming remains undefeated: Nintendo now says it has the right to brick your Switch if it thinks you're pirating games or modifying the console |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/pc-gaming-remains-undefeated-nintendo-now-says-it-has-the-right-to-brick-your-switch-if-it-thinks-youre-pirating-games-or-modifying-the-console/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 May 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref> covering these details. Other publications like IGN,<ref name="IGNBrickingMay2025" /> GameSpot,<ref name="GameSpotBrickingQuote" /> TechRadar,<ref name="TechRadarBricking2025">{{Cite web |last=Publisher |first=Future |date=May 12, 2025 |title=Nintendo now says it can disable your Switch or potentially even your new Switch 2 if you don't follow its user agreement |url=https://www.techradar.com/gaming/nintendo-now-says-it-can-disable-your-switch-or-potentially-even-your-new-switch-2-if-you-dont-follow-its-user-agreement |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=TechRadar}}</ref> GamesIndustry.biz,<ref name="GamesIndustryBrickingQuote" /> and Android Authority<ref name="McNealAA2025" /> also provided analysis and reported on user concerns.  
Concerns were widely reported by major gaming publications. Eurogamer<ref name="EurogamerBricking2025">{{Cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Nintendo reserves the right to brick your console following "unauthorised use", in bid to prevent piracy |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-console-following-unauthorised-use-in-bid-to-prevent-piracy |access-date=May 9, 2025 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref> and Game File<ref name="GameFileEffectiveDate" /> were among the outlets<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCrae |first=Scott |date=8 May 2025 |title=New Nintendo of America policy asks users to give up their rights to a class-action lawsuit and call customer service instead: "Most matters can be quickly resolved in this manner" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/nintendo/new-nintendo-of-america-policy-asks-users-to-give-up-their-rights-to-a-class-action-lawsuit-and-call-customer-service-instead-most-matters-can-be-quickly-resolved-in-this-manner/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=GamesRadar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=10 May 2025 |title=PC gaming remains undefeated: Nintendo now says it has the right to brick your Switch if it thinks you're pirating games or modifying the console |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/pc-gaming-remains-undefeated-nintendo-now-says-it-has-the-right-to-brick-your-switch-if-it-thinks-youre-pirating-games-or-modifying-the-console/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 May 2025 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref> covering these details. Other publications like IGN,<ref name="IGNBrickingMay2025" /> GameSpot,<ref name="GameSpotBrickingQuote" /> TechRadar,<ref name="TechRadarBricking2025">{{Cite web |last=Publisher |first=Future |date=May 12, 2025 |title=Nintendo now says it can disable your Switch or potentially even your new Switch 2 if you don't follow its user agreement |url=https://www.techradar.com/gaming/nintendo-now-says-it-can-disable-your-switch-or-potentially-even-your-new-switch-2-if-you-dont-follow-its-user-agreement |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=TechRadar}}</ref> GamesIndustry.biz,<ref name="GamesIndustryBrickingQuote" /> and Android Authority<ref name="McNealAA2025" /> also provided analysis and reported on user concerns.