Nintendo can brick your hardware if you mod a game
Recent changes to the Nintendo of America Nintendo Account EULA assert that users who violate the EULA may have their device rendered permanently unusable.
Background
On May 8, 2025, Nintendo of America sent an email notice to Nintendo Account holders regarding changes to the Nintendo Account User Agreement and Nintendo Privacy Policy. A statement was added to the EULA which claims that Nintendo can brick your hardware if you violate the terms of service.[1] Specific violations mentioned includes copying, modifying, reverse engineering, decompiling, distributing, and making derivative works of any portion of Nintendo Account Services.
From Section 2 of the EULA, "You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with the foregoing restrictions Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part."[2] Additionally, Section 16 of the EULA waives the right for users to participate in class action lawsuits and only permits users to engage in individual arbitration.[3] The user can opt out of these arbitration requirements by providing written notice to Nintendo of America within 30 days of first agreeing to the EULA pursuant to the directions in Section 16, subsection j.
Incident
[Company]'s response
Lawsuit
Consumer response
References
- ↑ Rajpal, Saras (8 May 2025). "New Nintendo Account Agreement Can Potentially Brick Switch Consoles". Final Weapon. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ↑ "Nintendo Account User Agreement". Nintendo Account. 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ↑ McCrae, Scott (8 May 2025). "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"". GamesRadar. Retrieved 9 May 2025.