Nintendo's Strict Policy On MiG Carts Is Creating A Problem For Secondhand Switch 2 Buyers

And what is a MiG cart?

Oh trust me, this is creating a problem for every Switch 2 buyer 😂.

The same thing happened to me when I bought a used PS4 to play Final Fantasy VII Remake. Luckily the game had no game-breaking bugs, so I could finish it without any patches, but after that I had to sell the console at a big loss.

Well, it's very unfortunate. I guess the solution would be to test the system before buying it, or seeing a video of it working. Not everyone would let you do that, though.

MIG cartridge is definitely a pirated cartridge to play pirated games on Switch machine.
No wonder MIG cartridge will be instantly banned by Nintendo.

@Max_the_German
This is MIG cartridge.

Looked similar as R4 cartridge to play pirated NDS & 3DS games.

@Max_the_German a memory card to copy and run pirated games

What does Nintendo customer service have to say? Will they take in the console under warranty or not? If not, what’s then the take-in policy for that unit?

we need a real; proper, NEW direct

A
S
A
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More like MiG Cart users, or should I say, pirates, are creating a problem for secondhand Switch 2 buyers. They are the ones failing to read the user agreement, actively bricking the system, and then returning them in a damaged state.

For their part, retail stores need to run a simple online verification check before accepting returns on Switch 2 consoles

@JohnnyMind I can't blame Nintendo for taking the nuclear option. If they tie it to accounts, they'll just open another. End of the day they're pirating games, so it's not like they'll worry about losing a library.

I know is situations can be different, but if you are buying second hand there are red flags. Is the item going for lower than similar items, will the seller not meet in person to have device tested to see if it is lock/bricked (especially common in second hand phones), so on and so on. But if this person was using pirating software they dont care if they sell a bricked console to someone, seems like a common thread of selfishness.

Agree with the comments above, clearly the biggest problem here is not Nintendo rather than:
1) people who are using pirated software, even though they know it might get the console bricked, and then when that happens, reselling the Switch 2 as if it's still functional, and
2) stores selling used consoles without checking if they're functional.

So don’t buy from eBay. That’ll show the scalpers

Don't buy from unknown sellers in ebay or other site, check the total good review of the seller. And don't forget to make an unboxing video of the product you buy so you have a proof if the product is defective.

Well they can try to brick a console here in EU.
The consumer protection laws, will give them hell, if they do.
They are only allowed to block access to the pirated game.
So second hand systems around here, should be safe to buy.

@GrailUK
Imagine the horror when the scalpers got thousand of Switch 2 machine then modded the machines one by one with MIG cartridge or any illegal way to play then sell the Switch 2 as a "Brand New" to customers like it was never been hacked then the customers become the victim of already hacked Switch 2 machine and when they try to connect with internet, the machine get bricked
The scalpers can be so EVIL like this if necessary because of... Money and Greed.
And that's really Big Fat Crime.

@BenAV I read 3 different articles elsewhere yesterday with writers who said they just buy expensive electronics and decide they really didn't want them, then sell them. Wasteful, but it seems to happen a lot. You can't really anticipate people motives for anything, just how you're going to deal with it. Best way would obviously just be to not go to the secondary market

Oh well, like with any product but from a reputable seller and you won't have this problem.

@JohnnyMind you're thinking about this in a very specific way. They get blocked and start new account, why would they repeat the thing that got them blocked? That seems incredibly less than smart... they played around and learned the boundaries. The only way to really slap these people is to cut them off completely, aka brick the system.

I'm not against buying a used console but i would never buy a used console this early its lifespan.

I'd be pretty sure Nintendo would unban these if you explain the situation and send it to them.

Like you're only going to have a permanently banned Switch 2 if you're the person using the MIG card on it.

I'm really speechless, this is the most anticonsumer behavior I've ever seen and the problem is that 2nd hand buyers are not smart enough? Seriously? A really smart thing here would be a class action.

Using a MIG cartridge is not piracy. An act of piracy would require the distribution of the game rom itself. Even someone using a rom acquired by such means is not actually guilty of piracy. A MIG cartridge can be used to back-up and play from that back-up, legitimately purchased Switch cartridges, an act which is in and of itself perfectly legal in numerous countries where the Switch and Switch 2 itself are sold. The fact that a MIG cartridge could be used with pirated software is, in such an instance, completely irrelevant. To wit, the Switch 2 console itself is perfectly legal to own, but taking that console outside and throwing it through someone's car window is not. There are already laws to govern actions outside of the law. If the MIG device is itself illegal, Nintendo already have recourse to take action against it, indeed given the company in question and their notoriously litigious nature, we may assume that were such legal action viable, Nintendo would have already taken it.
Furthermore, an EULA is not legally binding to the extent where it would contravene any existing laws applicable in the jurisdiction in which the pertinent device is being sold. To wit, Nintendo effectively disabling the purchased devices of customers, in response to their objection to the use of a perfectly legal device, having been used in such a manner that does not contravene applicable laws, on the part of the customer/user of said device, is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Mark my words.
On the plus side, I see that Nintendo corporate boots are cleaner than ever, today.

Maybe it's just me but if I ever bought a 2nd hand console I'd always try to buy it from a reputable retailer that will give you a receipt and a proper returns policy.

At a push I'd consider buying one from a close friend or relative that I trust.

As for buying one off some random "trust me Bro" dude online....... absolutely no chance

I blame the scummy original owners knowingly scamming poor unsuspecting people by selling a bricked console. No moral integrity whatsoever.

If you're planning to homebrew your Switch 2 anyways, getting a brick Switch 2 is a non-issue. If you're not planning to homebrew your Switch 2 (honestly I don't get why people would want to considering the thing just launch and modders aren't even familiar with the system yet) just go out and buy it at retailers. Unlike the Super NES, Switch 1, and Wii, finding the Switch 2 isn't that hard, I went to 10 different Walmarts and 5 Targets the past few days and there are like 5-15 of them still in stocks. It's not even that difficult to buy one, I could had bought one but choose not to for the time being.

@SirLink Prove it, its unironically better business for Nintendo for someone to have access online and to the e-shop than not.

There's literally no reason for them to keep a system banned unless you are actively using the MIG card or any method that allows piracy

Why in the world would you buy a used/second hand Switch 2 this early in its life cycle? All but guaranteed to have some kind of issue, as that would be the only reason someone would sell theirs this early

Wish you all good luck with your purchases.

Pretty sure that's illegal in a lot of countries, not the MIG cart but the acting of hard locking the hardware.

I know that because I worked with machines that had GPS with blocking system, once you installed them you were required to contact the company that made it so they would register and activate your machine. Problem being, suppose you need to move the machine a little to right where it was originally, not too much, just a meter or two to make space for something else, they would brick the machine until you contacted them again.

Thank god they lifted that weird requirement, it only took a couple of lawsuits.

as is the case with any online capable console since at least the 360. this isnt news

@Exerion76 banning online access is perfectly legal and has been done in the eu since the very beginning of online consoles

@Dr_Lugae aside from the fact that no one has ever managed to get his console unbanned, if you make a completely fanciful claim, it is NOT my job to debunk it, but YOURS to prove it.
That's how it works in RL.
Thread closed.

EDIT: you can also quit changing your comments according to my answers, thanks.

This is a problem with any console where the hardware can be banned from online. So basically everything released since the Xbox 360. This also means certain corners will latch onto this universal issue as a Switch 2 specific problem by the oh so anti-consumer Nintendo (Like the EULA kerfuffle).

Sounds just like the iPhone disabled problem. Not ideal but more people need to be informed before going in for 2nd hand SW2.
I do not believe the idea of just banning accounts works, it's too much of a slap on the wrist and Nintendo are definitely trying to cut the problem at the source to act as a deterrent to people toying with the idea.

Sadly, this is why I don’t buy used Switch games. Too much risk of this.

@JohnnyMind Or you just have a system where the new owner can appeal the ban with a proof of purchase from eBay or wherever.

Why do people keep calling this "bricked"?? Sure, being unable to play online sucks but, but for decades in the modding scene, a console being "bricked" means it can no longer boot or function at all. It is literally as useful as a brick at that point. People need to stop using words they don't understand

Hate the anxiety generated by news like these (but I'm thankful for Nintendo Life for sharing/raising awareness)... So, I already got my Switch 2, but like to buy used physical games - am I at risk? What happens if I buy a used Switch game that was previously (and unbeknownst to me) been "ripped"? Am I at risk of being flagged or having my console bricked?!

@LexKitteh Once a Switch 2 console online access is revoked, it is no longer possible to add another user (which requires online access) or remove any user (which also requires online access). At that point, the only way to remove any, and effectively all users, is to hard reset the console, at which point there will be no users, and no way to register another. Unless it is possible to play as a guest in this circumstance, without registering a user, the console is effectively bricked.

@LexKitteh there's some confusion because in some countries they can actually brick the consoles, and it's also written in the EULA. In Europe they can't and the EULA is different too indeed. Trouble is that without online services, you still won't do much with a banned console.

@helbertpina

Am I at risk of being flagged or having my console bricked?!

No, you aren't.

The shame’s on them for returning a non-fully functioning console and the store for not checking to see if the console was in reselling condition

@StewdaMegaManNerd It's effectively a legal problem. If someone purchases a Switch 2 and it stops functioning within the warranty or cooling-off period, the purchaser has a right to return that item, potentially for a refund or replacement. They haven't done anything to damage or disable the console, Nintendo has, and the buyer also won't have broken any applicable laws. A violation of an EULA isn't relevant to the refund policy of any retailer, and it's not on any given retailer to enforce the EULA of NIntendo or any other manufacturer of goods they sell.

@sanderev That is interesting, but can we be absolutely sure that this is still possible on a Switch 2 that has an online ban?

@StewdaMegaManNerd
Its impossible to check because Nintendo is not allowing anybody to get access to their database of flagged devices.

Truth is, if console is not modified in any way then it should be perfectly safe to buy used. See you in European court Nintendo.

Its Nintendo's problem that they cant stop piracy even on completely unmodified systems, its called incompetence.

Another reason why I will never buy a used console from some rando on the internet.

@WhiteUmbrella interesting. Are you a lawyer by any chance?

@LexKitteh
You also cant update any game and play key-cart games, which is essential. With banned console your legal physical games are half useless.

I love how people defend Nintendo predatory practices and just say "ok so I will never buy used console thats fine". First you give up your ability to buy used games, now you give up your ability to buy used hardware?

Do Game Key Cards still work on the banned Switch 2?

@cgpwns
No they dont

a factory reset should absolutely be able to undo any piracy flags, its wild that thats not the case. if someone was actively pirating games surely they would want to avoid factory resets as much as possible so as not to lose all their save data whenever they wanted to play online. seems almost as good a deterrant as disabling online functionality permanently while not screwing over people who may buy the system secondhand through less-regulated marketplaces etc, including clueless parents who may just think theres a connectivity issue or whatever. i get that this is meant to discourage reselling and getting most of your money back, but thats impossible to prevent. these consoles are clearly going to be in circulation, i dont see how punishing buyers will stop someone selling their console

@sunspotty
Its not working like that.

Every gaming company do bans in "waves" and clearing your console localy do nothing because logs are already uploaded to their servers.

In other words, you can buy Switch 2, you can factory reset, it might work for a week or month or longer, then BAM you get a ban.

What Nintendo is doing is dumb as *****, this creates so much confusion and bad experience, really not sure how its worth it for them.

Speculation: While this heavy-handed behavior is likely Nintendo's response to the rampant Switch piracy, it theoretically could open the door for hackers and modders. Short of fully disabling the console, how can Nintendo further penalize an already banned console? If anything, this might stoke the flames of determination to defeat the system security.

Nintendo punishing legit users of Switch 2, because they are mad that they were not able to prevent Switch 1 from being modded. Its kinda hilarious.

@sanderev
Im not gonna argue with you if you are not willing to learn and understand what we are talking here about.

@slytherin_real ...yeah. which is why i said it would be nice if that werent the case...?

@sanderev
Then you must be a politican, sir. "I dont need to understand what im talking about, the only important thing is that im always right"

@slytherin_real
No you are absolutely right, this thing is absolute nightmare. Imagine you buy a Switch 2 for your kid, all checked with seller that is working correctly, then you keep it in a closet waiting for kids birthday or something. You cant even return that later because most of the time you only have 2 weeks of "no questions asked" return window.

Legally using a MiG Switch seems a little absurd. If you don’t want to switch cartridges just buy digital.

While some people could’ve dumped them legally into their MIG Switch, I bet some of them decided to sell their carts after the process was done. After that point, you no longer have a legal license since you profited on selling your physical copy. Worst part is going to screw over the next person who decides to buy your copy from GameStop or any other retailer.

Pirating is bad. I get that.

Bricking hardware because some idiot used pirated software is also bad though. Someone paid money to buy that piece of hardware, and no company should have the ability to destroy a purchased product AFTER it is paid for.

Nintendo should ban the account, but it should not brick the system.

There should be consumer protection laws to protect against that sort of thing. Of course, no consumer is going to have the money to fight Nintendo in court though. Therefore, some country's AG should take it upon themself to sue Nintendo on behalf of all consumers affected by their actions.

Companies should NOT have the right to destroy a product that someone has bought. It is unethical and straight up wrong.

Again, piracy is WRONG. Destroying paid-for products by the company who sold the product to a consumer is ALSO WRONG.

@Folkloner not as simple as you make out. The person returning the bricked console would no doubt wipe all their data off the console, which means the store would need to go through the set up process and possibly add an account to see if it works. Very time consuming process for retailers.

@SirLink so, can we have class action lawsuits against Sony and Microsoft? They have the same language in their EULA. Same for Valve, Epic and CDP? Their storefronts will ban you for life too, especially if your account didn’t do the intended action.

You people really dont understand what this post is even about, well i give up, thats why im not a teacher, i would give up on students very quickly.

First, to clear this up: the console was bought at a Walmart, which does deal with used games and consoles. This means returns are also easy to do vs. dealing with online returns through eBay and the like. You can even return online purchases to a physical store.

Second, "bricking" is when the console doesn't function at all. I'd call a console with no Internet "crippled".

I agree this is a heavy-handed approach by Nintendo, but what else can they do? Banning accounts is, historically, about as effective as applying a small bandaid to a major traumatic injury; it's very easy to create a different account and spoof an IP. Not sure what would be a more effective solution.

In addition, I'd be very suspicious of secondhand Switch 2s this early. The system hasn't even been out a month, so any returns at this point are highly likely to be defective or subject to issues like this.

@PharoneTheGnome They ban your device from their online services, they don't brick your console.

@progx sure, why not? Consumers' rights come first.

For stores, too, how do they verify that a console isn't 'bricked' before they accept a return? There's a lot of potential verification time to be spent on an extra layer of checks on returned goods.
My local GameStop will ask you to login to verify your system status and they do ask did you homebrew/hack your system and now used MigSwitch. If you did any of these they will say they will not buy it. Nintendo should NSO account banns this should not affect Switch 2 console itself. That way the banned account user now it's up to them to plead with Nintendo Ninja or forget ever owning NSO account as any future registration they will see the user and payments are on Account Banns.

It just isn’t is it? How many people even bought that stupid Mig Switch? This is something that 99.99% of Switch 2 owners will never encounter and youre just as likely to find a used PS5 or Xbox thats banned

@Tyranexx

but what else can they do?

This is entirely their problem, not the consumers'.

@WhiteUmbrella There's still some common sense on this site, apparently. @PJOReilly I gotta say I'm disappointed with the blatant bias of your article.

@sethfranum
You cant verify that.

Nintendo should not be punishing legit cunsomers for holes in their systems. Its simple idea for normal people but apparently Nintendo fanboys cant comprehend it.

@slytherin_real So your those Homebrew people that brick system for others looking for used Switch 2. Ya good going bud. What holes are you talking about? Link sources? Apparently Homebrew fanboys can't seem to comprehend this as well.

Guess I should hold onto that Switch2 then.

Better glue the cartridge port shut too.
Never know what kinda nasty virus carts one could slip into my switch..

Why does this sound so wrong?

Nintendo !

The strict policy or the dishonest sellers previously on the receiving end thereof?

@Alcea
Imagine serial banner, someone might be just walking around with Mig Switch inserting it into peoples Switch 2 in public places and getting them banned. Better to glue it shut.

I know this sort of thing (banning consoles from online) has been going on since the 360. Though then I heard it more for inappropriate online interactions.
But that is something companies should think about. You think when you bad a console, especially for those who buying flashcarts. Do they really think those kind of users aren't going to just try to unload the console an another unsuspecting owner?
I suppose the scammed owner could try to contact Nintendo and ask to unban it. I hope they would, people pirating games, especially on active hardware, probably aren't going to make such a call.

Just buy a new Switch 2 or a fully tested one from a store or online outlet. Avoid eBay and other places where the system has not been tested.

@KingMike
If I remember correctly you had to modify Xbox360 for possibility of ban, and you cant modify without opening it, and you cant open it because Xbox360 had security sticker.

So sellers were just checking for broken security sticker, here seller cant do anything because nothing is modified. Both outside or inside console.

So its completely different situation.

FYI - I don't have a MIG cartridge, but I have considered it for my Switch. I'm probably in the minority, but I have never used a flashcart for piracy. I got a couple different varieties of flashcarts for my 3DS back in the day and simply used them to load my large physical cartridge library and have all the games available on the go. I considered doing the same for the Switch (about 100 physical games at this point), but have not yet. While I agree the use of flashcarts may not be something Nintendo likes, it is definitely not a piracy-only device.

For my use case, if Nintendo provided a way to get a digital copy of a physical game it would also solve my problem. For example, with a game inserted you can download the digital version (or copy from the card) and play without the cartridge. Maybe reverification after a certain amount of time like they do for NES / SNES / etc. Switch online use. I know having a large physical collection puts me in the minority around here, but I hate digital (other than convenience) and will never give up my game cards.

@LexKitteh That's right, disabling a console's online access would only significantly impact the console's usability if the manufacturer were to implement some kind of system emphasizing physical cartridges that were to not contain the game data but a license to download the game data.

@KingMike that is a really good point. How does the bricking of these systems effect the ability to play Game Key Card cartidges for the unlucky individual that buys a banned Switch2 in the future (with out knowing it was banned)?

If this makes it so you can not play a Game Key Card game simply because the system can not go online to download the game that the game key card is for, then they have effectively BRICKED the system. That definitely should be protected by consumer protection laws in many countries.

I'd be suspicious of any second-hand Switch 2 console right now, the console JUST came out. If anything, pick it up from somewhere like Gamestop that tests every unit first and comes with a receipt

@SirLink I don't disagree, and I do think Nintendo should implement a different solution in their power. However, this is, in my eyes, mostly on the individual who sold or traded in the console after knowingly using an MiG cart. A clear violation of the EULA, which Nintendo is far from the only company to implement. Sure, we could shift a little of the blame on Walmart for not fully vetting the unit before putting it up for sale, but IF they tested it (and this if iffy depending on the store and employees involved), this would've cleared basic functionality tests. I doubt they'd go as far as to test online features, especially if the console was wiped beforehand (which was likely).

I don't blame the buyer at all. I am glad they were able to return the system without hassle.

@PJOReilly In response, and as someone who has frequently criticised Nintendo lately, I went back to your article and read it carefully. I wouldn't level a boot-loving accusation at you, and in my opinion your article was balanced and fairly neutral, but I do notice that you refer to the MIG cartridge as a device that enables piracy, effectively leaving out the idea that it has a legitimate use. If the MIG cartridge was only an avenue to illegal activity, Nintendo would likely already have successfully sued for a legal injunction. In light of this, Nintendo's actions in response to a customers legitimate use of a legally owned device amount to overreach. Personally, I truly appreciate that you are bringing attention to the issue, but if you are seen to take one side, the other will always be against you.

Well I mean it is in the TOS. It is super scummy that the folks that violated the TOS are offloading the systems to unsuspecting users. But they were pirating so not surprised that they are robbing folks in real life as well. Hope the folks that bought the system second hand can get their money back (also the system has been out for what 2 weeks? A “cheap” used system should immediately be suspect.)

@slytherin_real I don't actually use A.I at all, at least when I can avoid it. I am curious what would lead you to draw that conclusion, though. What are you doing, Dave?

Not condoning piracy at all but aren’t the carts required to have data you can only get by dumping your own games?

They should ban Nintendo accounts and not whole systems...

Lazy store can't take five minutes to verify the console they're potentially taking in as fully functional, this is on them 100% and they should eat the cost. This means they probably aren't checking for other issues as well.

As for direct resell options, hell to the naw dawg. I'd just as soon not buy a console if I can't get it brand new with how squirrelly things have gotten since the offline home console days. There's no telling what chicanery might have happened now that most everything is softmods and there's no real barrier to entry.

The idea of someone remotely breaking something you own at their discretion is so friggin dystopian

I'm not surprised seeing a lot of people blame second hand buyers instead of Nintendo for this. Life happens and maybe some people need to unload things for emergency cash. Someone who wants a Switch 2 but can't afford it new are going to look for the best deal possible. It's not their fault the original scummy owner and Nintendo's anti consumer policies have screwed them. I understand Nintendo wanting to crack down on piracy but destroying the hardware is extreme. Just ban the original user's Nintendo account if they are caught. Bricking the hardware causes more e waste and is hurting legitimate customers who are thinking they are getting a great deal.

@BenAV Not really, especially these days people get caught up in the hype of what everyone else is buying and then they end up with buyer’s remorse and want to sell.

@MK73DS They should ban Nintendo accounts and not whole systems...

Exaclty that's what they should do. You put mig into your Switch 2 your account is banned and even if you get another Switch 2 that new account should be banned because your a known offender. I would never let anyone with a migswitch near my Switch otherwise it's batters up for you. You break the EULA why should they trust you again the second time. If people think they can get around this remember when you buy on eShop your identity is known and they just say you broken EULA so this account is banned now as well.

@Milk_ buying Switch 2 isn't a buyers remorse. The only hype was people wanting DayOne buyers. Any one else after that was their choice and it's far and few that fall into buyers remorse.

Do Nintendo just have a terrible security team or something. They seem quite lacking at the least. Maybe Nintendos litigation hammer pisses off some of the best black hats every generation lol.

TBH it never crossed my mind really with the banning of consoles and then getting it second hand. I could have landed myself in this situation as I don't have the switch 2 yet.

@PJOReilly stay strong! ✊🏻

@PJOReilly General policy in the comment section - if your views don’t align with other people right down to the letter, you’re a bootlicker.

@slytherin_real

Bann transgender people because they bann pirate hardware? Thats one far-fetched parable if I ever saw one xD

Anyway, just try-out used consoles before you buy. I would never buy a used car or even a used TV without trying if it works proper...

@AllBLK

You're right, why blame the buyer. Sure, they do have a responsibility to chack if the used products work, but first and foremost we should blame the scumbags that sells their blocked/banned Switches. It's probably even a real crime to sell it like that without being honest in the desrcription that the system is banned from online services.

My switch is banned from using online services because I refuse to pay for NSO. It appears to be a ban via mutual agreement with Nintendo. I won't pay, and they won't let me play online for free.

@JohnnyMind
This is likely to prevent further testing for modding purposes as the console is already in the hands of someone attempting to break their licensing agreement. If you limit the functionality of the console it would likely slow the inevitable modding solution down a bit.

@Max_the_German "Made in Germany"

I’m suprised they’re bricking consoles for the MIG carts. There’s a reasonable chance that someone is using their own personal back up of a game they still own. Will be interesting to see how it plays out

@JohnnyMind
It's very easy to create an account. I can make one in 5 minutes. Create email and a Nintendo account.

It's not that easy to return a console. It surely won't take 5 minutes. Or sell them in the second hand market without consequences. If someone has bought a bricked console, that's the risk the buyer is going to take.

Reminds me of when I bought my Wii U from Target. It was the Wind Waker one, but it turned out that somebody had already used the download codes and returned the system. Of course I could only discover this after setting up my online account and trying to redeem the codes, so I already had that account using my email address tied to that Wii U. Nintendo customer support wouldn't help me, insisting that I needed to return it to the store, which wouldn't fix my account problem. Turned out having to just eat the cost of Wind Waker and forego Hyrule Historia. Thanks, Nintendo!

"bricking" a device mean to render it as useless as a brick. Blocking online access is not bricking.

@slytherin_real read through your posts and while I get that you're outraged about Nintendo seemingly punishing an innocent 2nd hand buyer, it feels you've completely missed the mark about whom to be outraged by. It's also incredibly surprising you're way angrier at Nintendo than you are the person who knowingly sold the console

@Bl4ckb100d the term bricking has seemingly lost all meaning thanks to sensationalist gaming media and online ppl happily regurgitating headlines without reading

@SirLink This is not anti consumer, it is anti pirate. Pirates are not consumers. Pirates may consume, but not while they are pirating.

@AllBLK It is not very neighborly to call the police on my neighbor for breaking into my house and making a sandwich. The people chanting "anti consumer" have got to be children. This move by Nintendo is the most logical and predictable thing a company can do. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have been doing this for years. But the sheep have been enraged by social media because stuff costs money. Yikes!

Yet another severely disappointing example of bad apples ruining the secondhand market. Almost zero trust anymore in buying any kind of tech secondhand.

Wow. Everyone is so argumentative in here.
Remember "The higher, the fewer"

@Fleischyy
Reasonable?
Why would anyone spend $130 to then copy the games that he already owns on physical cart onto another physical cart?
It's a waste of money.

Wouldn't it be funny if there was a lawsuit and then the sales numbers of the "MigThief" and the "MigDumper" were made public?
I wonder how much worse the "MigDumper" sold. My guess is 1-2% at max compared to the "MigThief". Realistically probably even far less, maybe 0.1%

Reminder that this kind of crap destroyed the PSP, and was also horrible on the Nintendo DS. On the DS I remember buying that GTA game for almost next to nothing and it was a few weeks after release. I wondered what the hell happened. Sales numbers were horrible, similar to the 2nd PSP GTA game, but even way worse than that. GTA sell like hot cakes, so the correct explanation was thievery.

Great work on Nintendo's part! Now people are effectively forced to buy new!

@JohnnyMind nintendo shouldn't do either

@Ikswoltok nonsense. If you really want to punish pirates, you just ban their accounts while demanding that whoever makes a Nintendo account add their data (or their parents' data in case of minors) together with traceable payment methods. Once they identify you, you can't escape, until you do an identify theft which would definitely attract all the attention of the authorities.
Banning a console only punishes 2nd hand buyers. But maybe that's what they are really interested in at Nintendo, since in their mind 2nd hand buyers should buy new products instead.

@SirLink I do not agree with your comment. Your wildly speculative assertions on the motivation of the company illustrate that you are letting your emotions inhibit your ability to think clearly. Calm down.

@Ikswoltok Microsoft and Sony bans accounts that are found to be fraudulent or abusive. Nintendo is literally bricking hardware. I don't expect people like you to get why it's anti consumer though. You'll defend anything this company does just by your ridiculous initial comment.

On eBay at least it’s easy to refund as a faulty product, Gumtree and some other sites could be a pain

@AllBLK I thought Sony at least used to ban the consoles. Has that changed?

You don't truly own your console until the manufacturer stops supporting it. I'm totally indifferent to gamers who choose to MIG their console - i don't do it myself, but I see why others may choose to.

But, why not wait until Switch 1's support is discontinued rather than MIG your S2 on Day 1???

Because of the MiG device is it now possible to get your Switch / Switch 2 bricked by using a legitimate cart if someone copies it to a MiG then sells it ?

@JohnnyMind

It's unfortunate if someone buys a banned 2nd hand console, but it really is the sellers responsibility to describe the product he is selling honestly, it's not up to Nintendo to take responsibility for individuals being dishonest on the used items market...

@Ikswoltok you don't know what my emotions are. I'm on a Nintendo fansite, I buy most of their stuff, I think most of their stuff is awesome, but that doesn't stop me from knowing when they're wrong, because I do not let my emotions get the best of me, so that's the exact opposite of what you're saying.

I also don't like it when people, including companies, want me to side with them by finding imaginary enemies where there aren't to try to convince me that what they're doing isn't abuse.

You know, people are innocent until proven guilty, and if you believe your customers are potential thieves, then either change your mindset or change your business.

It’s obvious Nintendo wants to prevent any piracy or hacking nowadays, but the fact they’ll online ban a console starts making it a huge problem when they return or sell on a website.

To anyone wanting to get a preowned Switch 2, just be careful where you get it from

@WhiteUmbrella nintendo won several lawsuits against R4 cards for enabling piracy.
mig cards have less legitimate uses than an R4 card.

@MrCarlos46 no difference really to Microsoft's and Sony's console bans

@AllBLK literally bricking? That's completely false

@thedicemaster Those were individual lawsuits, in numerous European countries, UK and Japan. There is no legal precedent in the United States, the largest market Nintendo has, by far. The right to back-ups there means Nintendo would lose. Your claim about R4 being more legitimate than MIG seems spurious, since Nintendo's claims usually revolve around bypassing their protections. MIG doesn't facilitate installation of custom firmware, for example. R4 does.

@WhiteUmbrella DS didn't even have custom firmwares to install.

and R4 definitely had more legitimate uses, because it could run homebrew.

and the lawsuits actually led to import bans in several countries.

@FortniteJ

Because I like to own physical, but do NOT like carrying £1,700 worth of games around when I use the system portably? So I could carry all my bought and paid physical games around on one cart?

@thedicemaster It's a moot point. The devices only need one legitimate use case to be legal. Creating back-ups is legal in the U.S. and is illegal in Europe or Japan. This is why Nintendo brought and won cases in other territories, and yet didn't even bother to try within the U.S. , because they knew they would lose in their biggest market. It's debatable what Nintendo even gained by suing over R4, because clone devices are still freely available everywhere, to this very day.

@Moistnado My switch is banned from using online services because I refuse to pay for NSO. It appears to be a ban via mutual agreement with Nintendo. I won't pay, and they won't let me play online for free.
Is this a bad joke? Why should you get free access to for paid services? Don't pay to subscribe you don't get access easy peezes. No got banned from NSO services you choose to think your entitled for something you have to pay for.

@WhiteUmbrella Dude what utopia world are you living in. US has EULA working for Nintendo. They don't have to bring cases in US the EULA/TOS does that already. They sue R4 because they are the IP of the software and control it. You clearly don't read or understand Copyright Law 101. Also those HomeBrew/Hacker never comments on here or "Never" go online again because they know Nintendo is looking for them. Only Idiots using R4 online gets themselves caught redhanded.

@sethfranum We've never had a conversation before, but I have read plenty of your posts. I don't mean to be rude, but firstly, your posts are commonly just one step away from word salad. It's difficult to understand what you are trying to say, exactly.
Secondly, you're clearly not in a position to lecture me on understanding copyright or any other law, for that matter.
EULA and TOS are not legally binding, where they contravene the law in any given jurisdiction. Nintendo cannot just write things into law, and the law will have the final say on any issue.
Copyright law is completely irrelevant to this conversation.
The only thing a MIG cartridge does, is enable backing up of files, in this case game files, which is a completely legal action within the U.S. The company that sells the device does not distribute ROMs, nor do they use any Nintendo software. The fact that anyone who uses a MIG cartridge can then use it to play their back-ups on the Switch directly from a sd card inserted into the MIG cartridge is incidental. No circumvention of any security measures happens in this instance. The Switch console plays the files from the MIG cartridge, just as if it were a game cartridge produced by Nintendo. If Nintendo wanted to prevent this, the onus is on them to install security measures that prevent it. No-one is going to be prosecuted for circumventing a security feature that doesn't exist.

No Surprise from me. All the talk about preservation, only want to play homebrew, saying "it's ok because Nintendo is greedy " and all the other BS those who pirate games constantly spew out. They show you who they truly are by not only trying to rip off Nintendo but there own fellow gamers as well.

Easy solution to this, Nintendo should have a date & time of when it bricked that serial # saved. So if you could show proof of purchase after that date from a reputable retailer then they can and should unbrick it. Doing it to your acct not the console is probably a better way but there should be a way to reach out to cust service and unbrick it by saying this wasn't me you bricked it 1 week ago, I bought it today, here's my proof of purchase.

I feel like calling this a tool for piracy is unfair. On the switch 1 you would've gotten banned very quickly for running a pirates game, or it wouldn't work, because you need extra files that uniquely identify your game cart for the game to even run, which would make it easier for Nintendo to know something is up and ban your system if 100s of people are using a cart with the same derails, and getting these extra files is difficult, most ROM sites do not have them , however you could play legit game backups no problems without any bans, but now switch 2s are being banned for running legit backups of games which is kind of bs if you ask me.

@Bl4ckb100d The more console-makers go towards digital-only, the more the two terms become synonymous.
The day you won't be able to do more than turn a console on without needing an online connection, that's where consoles are going.

@killuaxgod I feel like calling this a tool for piracy is unfair.
Then what else is it good for? Most general consumer don't use it for this. It's mostly HomeBrew/Hackers that use this device. Most people don't go hotswapping their games a million times a minute. And you can hack the software when you do this so again what was it's purpose? This isn't a backup that is a false excuse to cover up the real activities.

@KingMike The day you won't be able to do more than turn a console on without needing an online connection, that's where consoles are going.
Same could be said of anything you own that is electronics. Be ready to insert you CC before you turn on any devices then in this connect age we live.

@AndrewR if Nintendo were smarter, they would wait to ban the switch until 31 days after the original buyer sets up the switch with their Nintendo account. At that point the person can't just return it to GameStop or Best Buy. Doesn't stop them from selling it on ebay, but it's significantly limits their ability to get any of their money back.

@Thelonious and ideally would let us search banned serial numbers

@slytherin_real
shudder

@sethfranum I would argue the audience for using this as a piracy device is much lower than using it for legit purposes.

Using this as a piracy device 100% will get you banned, Nintendo is always collecting telemetry about the specific games and unique serial number of the cart you are using to play, if they see you using the unique identifiers of one specific cartridge known to be portable online, they will ban you. So this is only for an audience ok with having their switch banned, but they also can't hack their switch by sending it in to get a modchip for whatever reason.

If it really were "homebrewers/hackers" using this, they would either get a v1 switch and mod it quite easily or get a modchip put in for $50-100 on their newer patched switch, the RP2040 chip for the procedure is super cheap and easy to find unlike the mig switch and you can do stuff like blocking Nintendo servers, wiping serial numbers in an Emunand to avoid a ban, I first hacked my switch in 2020 and haven't been banned. There's also a good chance getting someone to put in a modchip is cheaper than just the mig switch cartridge that has less functionality and has much higher risk of a ban.

The audience for using this as a legit device is much larger, not massive, but larger since on the switch 1 using it as a legit device doesn't come with as many limitations and caveats. If you have a sizeable physical game collection, it would be much easier to have everything on one cartridge instead of lugging all your games with you that can't be replaced easily if stolen, you can also use a thinner carry case for your switch and not have to carry anything extra with you.

This device is too inconvenient to be used for piracy, there are much better options that are likely cheaper and do not reduce the resale value of your console with a ban. The only use case I see is if you are buying a used console that has already been banned, but somehow doesn't have the homebrew/hacks on it that caused the ban and you also can't be asked to hack it, but you can be asked to scour the internet for proper dumps that will work with this device (which are difficult to find).

If this device truly were being used by many people for piracy then don't you think more piracy sites would host the necessary files for the device to work? (none of them do, it won't work at all without all the files with the unique identifiers)

If it's just banning from online, it is far from "bricking"