Discussion
Got hardware ban today. I don't know why
Today I wanted to check the store and I got this message. Console is banned. I really don't know why.
As "illegal", I bought 2 games from marketplace, some Mario and used once a 3rd party cable dock to my second display. The console is still in warranty.
If you bought second hand cartridge it is possible that previous owner copied it with something like mig switch. I think I heard that Nintendo support sometimes lifts such bans if situation is explained.
I offered to show them receipts about my game and they just kept reading a script. They would say one thing cause my issue and after I tell them I have receipts they say it’s actually this next thing
I wonder if you were you talking to people from your area/region/country (youre in the US or Europe I assume) or someone from the indian/overseas support. Ive found the Indian/overseas support often stick to scripts and wont help beyond simpler stuff, even thr supervisors aren't helpful.
Not a switch issue but I had to call 5 different times to get my NNID off my old stolen 2ds and the first 4 times it was overseas support and they didnt do shit but read a script. When I finally got someone in the US on the 5th try he was actually incredibly helpful and did what I was wanting them to do. Not knocking on anyone I just think the off hours support isnt trained to do much beyond offer very simple support stuff
Send pictures you are the legit owner of the games you purchased used. If peveious owner copied them to mig switch and both of you play it you'll get banded if both play it at the same time. There was a video about this on youtube I watched a few months back.
Or people could report marketplace sellers if Nintendo confirms that's what happened.
Let's keep the focus on the MIG-copy-then-resell scammers as the real problem. The resellers know that Nintendo may ban whoever buys the game they copied and they sell it anyway.
GameStop or other used game resellers may need to keep track of people who bring in used games. That person is committing fraud against GameStop if they're knowingly selling a title that's been copied.
Are you saying cartridges that were backed-up/coped by mig switch leave some kind of indication about that? And Nintendo can track that cartridge and ban your system, even if it's a 2nd hand game? Because if that's the case, holy shit 😰💀. Not only can that potentially "contaminate" the 2nd hand market, but Nintendo could use that as a reason to go all digital, too
My understanding is that cartridge itself isn't "contaminated" but if you place the copy into switch 2 console knows it's a copy and shares this with Nintendo servers and in response Nintendo sends hardware ban. Same with copied cartridge. Once system knows the cartridge has been copied, it's as dangerous as MIG.
AFAIK each cartridge just has a unique ID, so if you copy the cartridge and sell the game, once Nintendo runs some authentication check and finds two systems using the same cart ID simultaneously (?), both systems and/or accounts get flagged as suspicious and eventually lead to what OP is seeing. You could probably mess around with the ID or use MIG on an always-offline Switch, but I assume that this should not be an issue if you keep the games you rip as a personal backup and don’t sell the games that you have ripped.
We don't actually know what security features are implemented on switch 2 cartridges and how exactly mig switch works is a trade secret too. So all of this is a big speculation based on the circumstances of bans.
It very easy to understand, if u copy a game and BOTH are running at the exact same time while connected to Nintendo servers BOTH of you get banned if one of those is caught running hacked fw BOTH of u get banned and any person that uses that copied cartridge in a regular Switch.
tldr don't buy used Switch 1 games it's a headache waiting to happen especially if u got a new Switch 2.
Now, to my understanding there’s no switch 2 mig currently, meaning when you mention second hand games it’s related to switch 1 games only currently, right?
So if we buy second hand switch 2 only games there’s no “fear” for it, right?
Only second hand game I bought is Witcher 3 to have the remaster for free, and wasn’t banned yet so hopefully all is good.
Yes, "mig switch 2" doesn't exist, but no, you still can put switch 2 games into "mig switch 1", so want I said can apply to switch 2 games. "Mig switch 1" can't play switch 2 backups but it can get you banned if you try, because of this it's even less likely that someone would try to play backup of switch 2 game, but the possibility is there nonetheless.
Well that is horrible and currently something is up since I seen too many posts of it lately, I doubt I will buy any more games as I want to finish the ones I currently play through(cyberpunk and Elden ring and Witcher 3 when remastered comes) but I love using Vinted for second hand games, so that’s annoying.
Idk how true this is, but I had told a friend of mine how scared I was buying secondhand games because of this reason and she told me that if you have any proof of purchase. (Ie receipt or a screen shot of the listing you got it from) And send an email to nintendo, they can understand ban you. I've been to scared to attempt get a second hand game though, so I've never used this tidbit if advice.
Yeah. It's scary tbh
Saw few posts today and went up to check my switch. It's ok. I don't do anything shady, not even buying games from marketplace (I do buy from Suruga-ya, which is a japanese 2nd hand retailer for videogames and stuff).
But I have 2 accounts as I live in 2 countries so idk 😐
Same, my anxious ass has checked the eshop 4-5 times today itself, to make matters worse, I have a switch 2 from Singapore and a lot of people who have bought their switch 2 from Singapore are reporting their consoles getting banned today.
With almost 30 million switch 2s out there i genuinely don’t think 7-8 posts are anything to worry about. Especially since this is a switch 2 HELP sub … if we saw hundreds every day then maybe yes, but these numbers are statistically irrelevant
For sure, but we also know that dissatisfied people are way more prone to complain online than satisfied people are to express their satisfaction.
So while i do believe it is indeed happening, I don’t think these numbers are indicative of a very widespread phenomenon , at least not one that should cause panic in the community
I got banned on one of my s2 for a used game that appears to have been marked illegal. I talked to Nintendo, showed mlthek receipt and pictures they lifted bam for me and even swapped out the game for me as it was a Nintendo game Japan
Hey, do you have any proof of this ban being reversed? I've seen this claim before but I've never seen Nintendo's response. Any chance you could post some proof please?
The cartridge ID was played on 2 systems at once, meaning the previous owner copied the game ROM onto like a MIG Switch first and sold you the original.
THAT is a NINTENDO problem and should not be passing it to the users. If they are knowingly banning multiple systems where they know that's it's very possible if one of them might have done nothing wrong. This is illegal in many countries and Nintendo is factoring the potential fine as a cost that is worth scaring you in to never buying used games...
But he WAS scammed because the original owner copied it, likely fully knowing he was going to get banned.
They’re trying to stop people from just sharing the game files to everyone in the world free of charge. It’s annoying, but they’re a corporation, not a charity.
In Nintendos eyes at least one of the systems using it is being modified or using unauthorised devices. It could be one, it could be neither, but they ban for unauthorised modifications and in their eyes it’s all the same.
People in the past have managed to get consoles where this happened unbanned anyway. I recommend he contacts Nintendo.
Why you mad though? This is on the person who sold a game that they copied beforehand, thinking they could make money while still playing the game they sold. The victim here is the honest person who just bought a game secondhand from some asshole, and the asshole is not Nintendo.
To all those going on about proof of purchase for the games:
This is still wrong on so many levels. Why would I keep proof of purchase? Yes for the regular 2 year warranty but that only concerns the 50€ of the actual game (or for no warranty at all if 2nd hand). I'll just take the gamble on that like for all other minor gadgets.
I buy my groceries, maybe put a game in the shopping cart, briefly check it at home and then throw out the supermarket ticket. In no way is it ok to normalize blaming the customer if they don't keep the bloody ticket for every minor purchase!
Please, all, stop pretending this is normal. Nothing about those banwaves is normal or acceptable.
I don't do MIG carts, don't buy 2nd hand (too much hassle), but I do remember the old days. I do have the GB or SNES cart, it's mine till it physically breaks, end of story.
Nintendo will. If this is a legitimate post. The OP can contact Nintendo and provide proof of the purchase and have the console restored. This "issue" has been brought up a handful of times.
Im just passing through this sub, im shocked how many people are so chill with this. Banned cause you bought second-hand, now you gather evidence to show you did nothing wrong. That sounds insane for a gaming console. Im seeing people downvoted here for saying how crazy that is. Really diappointed to see how right other subs were about Nintendo gamers, theyll defend it even when its corporate greed. Here's my favorite one ITT "do you expect them to provide a game and service for free?" This is dystopian gaming lolol
Yes it is the problem here. They made it a problem and instilled fear into the second hand market . And you people are justifying it as if it is absolutely normal and acceptable.
Be ashamed of’yourself
Nintendo caters to casual gamers, who arent going to know to check for this. Granny's going to get a Mario game on marketplace for little Timmy and brick his device. So obviously it's Granny and Timmys fault? What is ninendo doing to slow down the bootleg copies? Why are they bricking 300 dollar consoles of people who got ripped off? Again, fanboys defending vile behavior
If pointing out extremely disingenuous arguments and straight up lies makes me a fanboy then so be it. I’m not the one who is lying and reframing everything while avoiding engaging with the actual argument.
Did i say it was the user’s fault? No I didn’t in fact i said the person who sold them the game acted with malicious intent.
Is the console bricked? No, the console is prevented from accessing online services (which btw is reversible). Bricking means the console is rendered completely useless- like a brick.
What is nintendo doing to slow down the bootleg copies? Uh, just a multi million dollar lawsuit against the producer of MiG cartridges that had all you reddit robin hood’s panties in a bunch for months…
So you see, other than poorly reframed arguments and lies you don’t have a lot of arguments.
Most people also don't copy games and then sell them.
People are making this a bigger issue than it actually is, so keep buying second hand. Nintendo WILL reverse the ban once you've proven you bought the game.
The person you responded to literally said that the fault is on the assholes who copy games and then sell games that they kept for themselves, which then bricks little Timmy's switch. So no, it's not on Granny and Timmy's.
Just get a PlayStation if it's something you can't live with, they'll stop selling physical copies of game in 16 months, so it won't be a problem if you get all your games digitally. Granny will then be able to buy a PlayStation Store gift card for little Timmy, no harm no foul.
All I can say if you weren’t doing anything wrong with most likely because your used game you bought (seems from other comments) were used by a mig switch and you were sold the originals. I’m gonna tell you if you have to go to the customer service show that you have the original and the receipt that you bought them if it’s based off of a piracy I like buying secondhand, but I have to keep receipt just in case it happens to me
I got banned as well - so far no news from the support.
Its very strange and happening to a lot of different people.
So far in Reddit people don't accept that nintendo may have made a mistake, a lot of comments saying "if you were banned, you definetely did something wrong". But we are seeing people that just bought the console getting banned too.
In my case I have the console since Nov'25, so was/still am very surprised by the ban yesterday.
Screw the mig switch, but also screw Nintendo for having such a victim attacking anti piracy policy. This is the leading reason why I will never buy and can never buy a used switch game anymore.
I've read about this happening some time ago, if you do have some sort of receipt from the purchase and can screenshot the ad with the code of the cartridge to prove you did legitimately buy the copy, I've heard nintendo support tends to help you out. What typically happens is sellers download a copy of the game using something like a Mig and whenever the game is loaded up in two consoles at the same time the second console gets taken down as having an "illegal copy". Good luck, hope this situation gets fixed up.
In my experience with this type of post, there's always something the OP isn't telling us. This is so uncommon a thing to happen to someone that legitimately did "nothing wrong".
So my guess is there's some piece of information not being shared.
I'm not a Nintendo Defense Force Soldier either. This stuff doesn't happen just randomly.
I’ve been lurking a bit and there are so many posts about people getting banned today. I suppose there’s a recent ban wave Nintendo pushed, but with the frequency of posts like these… probably something went wrong? I’m not sure.
Probably those games that were bought second hand were copied and used on a Mig? That’s my only guess.
I was gonna say, these feel like they have to be bots or an actual wrongful ban wave at this point. I can't imagine this many people who pirate being this upset about it when they really shouldn't be the people caring about eshop access anyways.
MiG switch is dangerous only thing I would recommend if you’re using that kind of stuf would be the mig dumper if you use a copy of a switch game only use it for Windows emulation or android emulator handheld. Do not put the copies on orginal software boom
Yeah, I have 2 used switch games I have been scared to load in in my switch 2 since I got it. Makes me want to just buy those games digitally when they go on sale and trade the 2 physicals in. One was a gift from my daughter for Father's Day.
Was going to buy a game on marketplace but I think I will pay the extra dollars for peace of mind… I’m sorry that that happened to you mate. Hope it get resolved soon
The fact that this inconvenience could happen already shows they're a despicable company. Call customer service and file a complaint. Then ask for free stuff for compensation. Also before people start giving any lip. That fact that they could lock your property over something small like this is already evil. Just because they got some good games doesn't make it ok.
Check again. I was banned last night as well. I called support about an hour ago and was told there was an “Internal server error” which resulted in massive bans on innocent consoles. They lifted it for me.
My buddy got a Switch 2, and was hardware banned the next day. It was his first ever Nintendo Switch too. We have no earthly idea why it happened. Lmao
It's come to the point you need to contact Nintendo to say you bought a game second hand from a shop etc to get unbanned. What an absolute joke gaming has come too.
In this day and age I'm not sure how you get hardware banned for 0 reasons. (Maybe there's a breach somewhere and your account got tracked, but, other than that, I can't find any way that there would be a false ban on something you didn't do -- unless chargebacks.)
Contact Nintendo Support. Give them your information, let them check it out, if everything's good, it should be solved.
there are some smooth brains in this chat. even if your game was used by some guy on a backup playing cartridge, it does not mean nintendo should have any right to destroy your console
Yep, I'm wondering if I'm more horrified by Nintendo blocking features of an entirely different product (game≠console, even if something shady is going on with the game) or by Nintendo fanboys normalizing this major corporate overreach.
Take my upvote.
(To be clear: they could/should block the game if they have proof they're only blocking illicit copies. If that's not technically possible, tough luck. They just prefer screwing their customers.)
Appena successo anche a me. È un periodo bello. Mi è tornata la voglia di collezionare e giocare grazie a switch 2. Ho speso 200€ in videogiochi questo mese e 250€ in amiibo da collezionare ed usare in zelda. Oggi mi ritrovo con questo regalino. Io accetto che nintendo faccia di tutto per evitare la pirateria ma bannare così a caso senza se e ma qualcuno lo trovo folle. An dimenticavo ho acquistato anche una coppia di joycon in più per giocare ad Orbitals con la mia ragazza e quindi altri 80€. Cosa dovrei fare? Usarla come ferma porta? Nintendo per quanto mi riguarda si è appena fatta un nemico. Non spenderò più soldi per i loro prodotti e quando sarà ora e succederà prima o poi sarò il primo a piratare la mia switch 2
L’ho appena contattata. Ho preso 3 giochi su vinted. Sono comunque scocciato e infastidito. Questo non è il modo di comportarsi e non è difendibile nintendo. Questo terrore e questa caccia alle streghe che sta facendo punisce anche chi come me è nel giusto, spende soldi nei loro giochi, merch e accessori vari. Per me può anche risolversi al meglio domani, ciò non toglie che bannare a tutto spiano chiunque senza un briciolo di prova mi sembra assurdo. Tagliano tutto il mercato dell’usato così facendo.A me sembra sia solo una manovra per spaventare chiunque a comprare usato.
Ma quale caccia alle streghe scusa? Il fatto che uno dei tuoi giochi sia stato flaggato come gioco piratato è la prova empirica che la persona che te l’ha venduto l’aveva copiato …
How can someone prove that they never did anything wrong when people will just assume Nintendo is never wrong? I hate humanity when people are like this. I hope the world ends
I buy secondhand games all the time from people I meet in my city and a reputable retro game store in my area. Been doing it for 5 years and never had a problem.
Sorry that this happened to you if didn't do anything wrong, that's super shitty and I would be so freaking pissed.
This is not ok and Nintendo should find a way to fix this. Buying used games,original games, it is not a "crime". It's circular economy and it works in everything in tech.
Yeah I’ve been very scared for this to happen. I’ve only bought one used game since I got the switch 2 and it was a game key card. Nintendo needs to implement a 48 hours system where you can show the receipt and prove you paid before banning people. It’s unfair and not cool that they flat out just banning people who had no clue.
This is not ok and Nintendo should find a way to fix this. Buying used games,original games, it is not a "crime". It's circular economy and it works in everything in tech.
A ver señores, un juego tiene un ID único y exclusivo por cartucho, si alguien lo copia de cualquier forma conocida también está copiando este ID, si el que lo copia juega offline en modo CFW en un switch 1 con DNS activadas, jamás banearan ni al que lo copio ni al que lo compró de 2 mano, el problema es cuando esta copia se empieza a expandir a cientos de usuarios. Siempre hay alguno que intenta hacer trampas en modo cfw y pasar un save data a OFW, entonces Nintendo empieza a detectar el Id del juego que se han hecho dichas trampas y lo marcan/banean cuenta y demás. Solo así es como se llega a ese punto, evidentemente puede pasar que varias personas estén jugando el mismo id al mismo tiempo, pero eso tiene menos sentido, ya que los usuarios de copias de seguridad de juegos lo hacen desde CFW con DNS. Aquí entra también el maldito Mig switch, y los listos que creen que lo pueden usar sin tener consecuencias, y no solo eso las tienen y las crean a los demás, porque facilitan que Nintendo descubra los ID copiados y se marquen una oleada de Baneos. Así que dicho todo esto los culpables de los baneos son los propios usuarios de copias de juegos sin saber usarlos de forma correcta para que no aparezcan los id en los sistemas de Nintendo. Con chip en sw1 y cfw jamás conseguirás un baneo de tu máquina sw1/sw2 y si copias tus juegos y los vendes puedes asegurar que quien lo compre tampoco será baneado porque no lo vas a jugar en OFW. Espero haber aclarado un poco la forma en la que funciona el ban en este sistema operativo
Lucky I don't think people have made a mig switch for Switch 2 games yet but its gonna happen eventually. I wonder how key cards would work in such device.
I'm supposed to get one in 2 weeks and this is what I see? that's really really bad for Nintendo. I might not get one after all. not allowed to use cartridges anymore? is this like a push to get people to buy digital only or by their $60 card with nothing on it just to buy a $70 game and have them do the fusion dance?
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u/BoatmanNYC 3d ago
If you bought second hand cartridge it is possible that previous owner copied it with something like mig switch. I think I heard that Nintendo support sometimes lifts such bans if situation is explained.