Nintendo has won a $4.5 million judgment against James Williams, who was accused of distributing pirated Nintendo Switch games and moderating the r/SwitchPirates subreddit.
The judgment was entered by default, meaning Williams did not respond to the lawsuit in court. Alongside the damages, the court has ordered him to close any websites he operates that distribute pirated Switch material. Aftermath reports that the award matches the amount Nintendo sought.
A wider Nintendo crackdown
Nintendo filed the case against Williams in 2024 as part of a broader effort targeting piracy connected with the original Switch. The company had also pursued Ryan Daly, owner of Modded Hardware, a business associated with modified Switch consoles, modification kits and flash carts.
Nintendo and Daly initially reached an agreement under which he would stop the alleged illegal activity, while Nintendo would end its legal action. That arrangement did not hold, and the dispute proceeded through the courts.
Daly was ultimately ordered to pay Nintendo $2 million and surrender the hardware used to modify consoles. The judgment against Williams now adds another substantial financial penalty to Nintendo’s enforcement campaign.
What the case means for gaming hardware
For legitimate operators, the dispute is a reminder that modified hardware and unauthorised game distribution can create serious legal exposure. That distinction matters across the wider games market, from console accessories to dedicated arcade machines and replacement arcade parts.
Readers following the broader business side of gaming can find more developments in the RETROCADE arcade blog, including coverage of the industry surrounding licensed arcade hardware.
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