Nintendo Switch bans
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With the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo has already exercised rights it reserved back in early May 2025.[1][2][3] Nintendo blocking online services on certain Switch 2 devices effectively bricks them, as they are essential to make full use of the device and play third-party products bought in stores, which often contain game-key cards. So far, these bans seem to be irreversible, sparking concerns about bricked consoles making their way onto second-hand markets.
Background edit
In May 2025, Nintendo retroactively amended their agreements[1][2][3] to enforce new policies that harm consumers who purchased the Nintendo Switch, and any who would purchase the Nintendo Switch 2. In summary, the agreements provide Nintendo the right to brick consoles,[4][5] and force users seeking legal recourse into forced arbitration.
This update has brought severe concerns from both consumers and the media,[4][5] as they expected that Nintendo would enforce the totality of these terms.
Effective bricking via banning edit
In June of 2025, 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,[6] and as he discovered, a significant portion of the console's functionality depends on these online services.[7] The following is a non-exhaustive list of the services that a banned Nintendo Switch 2 is incapable of accessing:
- Nintendo eShop - This service is required for installing games from game-key cards, which a majority of physical third-party releases are distributed on.[8] Nintendo Switch 1 compatibility is additionally at risk due to bans, since the Switch 2 does not fully support the legacy library,[9] and thus requires access to online services to expand compatibility.
- Factory resetting - Demonstrated by Scattered Brain, the console is incapable of being factory reset by the consumer.[6]
- Account management - The removal of accounts, and the linking of new Nintendo accounts, is impossible while banned.
Nintendo's response edit
When a banned console attempts to use online services for any purpose, the user is given an error code, either 2124-4508 or 2124-4007, which relates to the following:[10]
Information when you try to connect to an online service on Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch but you receive the error code 2124-4007 or 2124-4508 along with the message, "The use of online services on this console is currently restricted by Nintendo."
Information
This error code indicates the Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch console you are using has been permanently banned from connecting online due to a breach of the user agreements.
A breach of user agreements may include, but is not limited to, activities such as:
- Fraudulent or unauthorized transactions
- Violation of our Community Guidelines
Beyond this vague error code description, the company has refused to provide consumers with an equitable recourse if their device is banned, such as methods for reversal. This puts unnecessary risk for consumers purchasing the device, since banned consoles are capable of circulating within markets, especially via 2nd-hand markets such as eBay.
Banned consoles circulating the market edit
Only days after initial reports of MIG Switch cartridges causing effective bricks due to Nintendo, predictions[11] surrounding the console circulating the market have become true. Not only has the standard 2nd-hand market for the console already put consumers at risk of accidentally purchasing these systems,[12] but consoles being returned to retail stores such as Walmart are also at risk of being repackaged on shelves.[13][14] Retail returns in particular cannot reliably test for bans, as the console requires access to the internet to inform the user that the console is bricked.
Additional methods of bans edit
TwinkLink - Caused by username/unknown variables edit
In June 2025, Switch 2 users reported receiving console bans[15] due to usernames that go against Nintendo's policies.[1] The user "Twink Link" caused her family's Switch 2 console to receive a swift ban from Nintendo, which the username was reported from support to have been the reason why the console was flagged and thus banned by Nintendo.[16] They were told by Nintendo support initially that the ban couldn't be undone. In an update to the post from the same user however,[16] a different agent informed them that the username was not the cause of the system ban, and some unknown element flagged the console to cause it to be banned, and the device is reported to soon be unbanned.
The fact that this false flag occurred without Nintendo support understanding how it could have happened has brought concern from consumers, as consumers receive no warnings or prior notices to getting banned, and thus being unable to interact with mandatory online services.[17][citation needed - Needs more sources]
Solla_ - Vague ban edit
Another user in Brazil had posted about their console additionally receiving a mysterious ban, however this time with zero explainable cause. The user in question, u/Solla_, had previously attempted to post to the r/NintendoSwitch Subreddit, however the staff on the community has been noted to delete any posts relating to console bans indiscriminately.[18][19] The same user instead posted to the r/NintendoSwitchHelp subreddit,[20] with an image of their console displaying error code 2124-4508, and a generic reason that the user violating the EULA agreement, without pointing at the section the user violated.
u/Solla_ explained inside the comments:[21]
I already tried calling Nintendo, but they won’t give me a clear answer. They just refer me to the EULA agreement and say that I violated it, which is why the ban is permanent. I’m now trying to get my friend to reach out to Nintendo and explain that the account I switched to is legitimate. We even share the Nintendo Family Pack, so hopefully that helps. Let’s see what happens.
Additionally in the comments,[20] users frequently attempted to claim u/Solla_ was the one entirely in the wrong in this scenario, with enough toxicity to the point where the moderators had to lock the post.
Used game bans edit
As it was discovered from some users on Reddit,[22] the used market can risk users from receiving a ban for playing some used games. Nintendo's fingerprinting system handled for Nintendo Switch 1 cartridges can flag users with an automatic ban if it detects that the game has been dumped.[23][24] This has also been reported to be a risk for NS1 games that can be checked out at public libraries, since actors can simply dump these games.[23]
Compared to previous bans, this dramatic measure is reported to be at least easily reversible,[22] however this is a risk users will be forced to face due to Nintendo's negligence with their antipiracy measures solely harming users who use the physical cartridge rather than the user with the dumped ROM, and will be frequently faced by users who opt to purchase physicals 2nd-hand, especially when they are out of print, like Super Mario 3D All Stars, or barely available on sale.[25] Additionally, due to Nintendo Switch 1 cartridges requiring an update to be installed to play on Nintendo Switch 2, only a singular cartridge that was dumped can cause any user to get banned.[26]
u/Character-Insect-775 - Key bans edit
Reddit user u/Character-Insect-775 reported on July 20th on the r/switch2 subreddit how their device got banned for applying game keys purchased on the platform CD KEYS.[27] Their device was banned by Nintendo roughly 1 week after the purchase of the device via a contract, and their support has halted the user from getting unbanned. Unlike some key resale vendors, CD KEYS purchases their games exclusively through legitimate vendors and Nintendo, meaning this is a risk for any consumer attempting to affordably play the Nintendo Switch 2 library.
In the comments of the same post, user u/Homoseshual reported their device being banned for using keys purchased through the platform G2A.[28]
In a unique stance, these bans being caused by resale vendor keys are not associated anywhere within the publicly accessible policies established by Nintendo for the platform.
Lawsuit: Procon-SP vs. Nintendo edit
In the country of Brazil, their consumer protection agency Procon-SP has warned Nintendo of a potential lawsuit regarding the Nintendo EULA and how it has been exercised recently against the safety of consumers.[29][30] Procon's primary concern is centered on how the cancellation of subscriptions or services without explanation violates currently-established Brazillian consumer protection rules.
Consumer response edit
Consumers are outraged at Nintendo for their repeated enforcement,[11] and it has faced coverage from numerous outlets such as Ars Technica,[7] Android Authority,[31] Nintendo Life,[32] and IGN.[33] A key concern discussed from consumers are how these banned consoles could easily circulate around markets,[11] either through 2nd-hand transactions, or stores accepting refunds for these devices.
The core Nintendo community has instead shown general toxicity towards users who broke the agreements.[34]
References edit
- ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Nintendo Account User Agreement". Nintendo Accounts. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 "Nintendo Privacy Policy". Nintendo Accounts. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 "Nintendo Privacy Policy - What's Changed?". Nintendo. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 Bonthuys, Darryn (May 9, 2025). "Breaking This New Nintendo Clause Could Make Your Switch 2 "Unusable"". GameSpot. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 5.0 5.1 "Nintendo Can Brick Your Switch And Skirt Lawsuits In Outrageous EULA Update". HotHardware. May 12, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 6.0 6.1 Scattered Brain (Jun 16, 2025). "Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!)". YouTube. Retrieved Jun 18, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 7.0 7.1 Orland, Kyle (Jun 17, 2025). "Switch 2 users report online console bans after running personal game "backups"". Ars Technica. Retrieved Jun 19, 2025.
- ↑ Cohen, Jason (Jun 5, 2025). "Buying Physical? Watch Out For the Switch 2's Game-Key Cards". PC Mag. Retrieved Jun 18, 2025.
- ↑ Ratchet Mods (Jun 19, 2025). "Nintendo BRICKS MIG Flash user's Switch 2 - The Difference between banning a Switch and BRICKING it". YouTube. Retrieved Jun 25, 2025.
- ↑ Nintendo. "Error Codes: 2124-4007, 2124-4508". Nintendo Support. Retrieved Jun 18, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 11.0 11.1 11.2 FritangaPlays (Jun 18, 2025). "Switch 2 Brick Situation JUST GOT WORSE Nintendo Screws Over ANOTHER User". YouTube. Retrieved Jun 18, 2025.
- ↑ O'Reilly, PJ (Jun 24, 2025). "Nintendo's Strict Policy On MiG Carts Is Creating A Problem For Secondhand Switch 2 Buyers". Nintendo Life. Retrieved Jun 24, 2025.
- ↑ Walker, John (Jun 23, 2025). "Beware: That Pre-Owned Switch 2 You're Thinking About Buying Might Already Be Bricked". Kotaku. Retrieved Jun 24, 2025.
- ↑ u/Bimmytung (June 18, 2025). "Found one. Didn't end well". Reddit. Retrieved Jun 24, 2025.
- ↑ Bevan, Rhiannon (Jun 30, 2025). "Switch 2 PSA: Nintendo Might Ban You If You Put Twink In Your Username". The Gamer. Retrieved Jun 30, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 16.0 16.1 u/Funaoe24 (Jun 16, 2025). "Be careful with Switch 2 usernames". Reddit. Retrieved Jun 30, 2025.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ FritangaPlays (Jun 30, 2025). "Nintendo BRICKS Switch 2 User For Changing Their Username?!?". YouTube. Retrieved Jun 30, 2025.
- ↑ Solla_ (Jul 5, 2025). "Nintendo banned my Switch console with no clear reason given, trying to understand what went wrong". Reddit. Retrieved Jun 7, 2025.
- ↑ Solla_ (Jul 5, 2025). "My Nintendo Switch 2 Was Banned Without a Clear Reason". Reddit. Retrieved Jul 7, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 20.0 20.1 u/Solla_ (Jul 5, 2025). "Nintendo Banned My Console Without Explanation". Reddit. Retrieved Jul 7, 2025.
- ↑ u/Solla_ (Jul 5, 2025). "Comment from u/Solla_". Reddit. Retrieved Jul 7, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 22.0 22.1 u/dmanthey (Jul 8, 2025). "Switch 2 users - be careful buying used Switch 1 games. You can get banned if a bad actor dumped it. Having said that, Nintendo support is amazing and will help get you back up and running". Reddit. Retrieved Jul 10, 2025.
- ↑ Jump up to: 23.0 23.1 Lucas, James (Jul 9, 2025). "Switch 2 Player Warns People To "Be Careful Buying Used Switch 1 Games" After Nightmare Outcome". The Gamer. Retrieved Jul 10, 2025.
- ↑ Gwilliam, Michael (Jul 10, 2025). "Nintendo bans Switch 2 users for playing used Switch game". Dexerto. Retrieved Jul 10, 2025.
- ↑ GameCentral (Jul 9, 2025). "Switch 2 owner banned for playing second-hand Switch 1 games". Metro GameCentral. Retrieved Jul 10, 2025.
- ↑ Gautam, Samir (Jul 11, 2025). "Nintendo Switch 2 Bans a Player Over Second-Hand Games! What It Means for the Rest of Us". TechStory. Retrieved Jul 10, 2025.
- ↑ u/Character-Insect-775 (Jul 20, 2025). "Okay so apparently buying a code from CD KEYS can restrict your switch 2". Reddit. Retrieved Jul 22, 2025.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ u/Homoseshual (Jul 22, 2025). "Comment on a Reddit post". Reddit. Retrieved Jul 22, 2025.
- ↑ Schomer, Matthew (Jun 29, 2025). "Brazilian Agency Formally Notifies Nintendo Over Console Bricking EULA Clause". GameRant. Retrieved Jul 4, 2025.
- ↑ Andrade, Bruno (Jun 26, 2025). "Procon-SP critica Nintendo por cláusula polêmica no Switch 2". tecnoblog. Retrieved Jul 4, 2025.
- ↑ Fernandez, Nick (Jun 17, 2025). "Nintendo is banning Switch 2 users for piracy, even if they're just backing up their games". Android Authority. Retrieved Jun 19, 2025.
- ↑ Doolan, Liam (Jun 16, 2025). "Nintendo Reportedly Banning Switch 2's Using MIG Cartridges". Nintendo Life. Retrieved Jun 19, 2025.
- ↑ Phillips, Tom (Jun 17, 2025). "Nintendo Launches Opening Salvo in War Against Switch 2 Game Pirates, as MIG Switch Users Report Online Service Bans". IGN. Retrieved Jun 19, 2025.
- ↑ u/_SquareSphere (Jun 18, 2025). "You can't do a system reset on a banned NS2 console. Nintendo has bricked a part of my console!". Reddit. Retrieved Jun 19, 2025.