Nintendo Could Brick Your Console for Modding
Nintendo has updated its User Account Agreement to take a much stricter stance against Switch modding, hacking, and piracy. The new terms state that if users bypass, tamper with, or misuse Nintendo’s services—such as modifying software, using unauthorized hardware, or running pirated games—their console or Nintendo Account Services could be rendered permanently unusable, either partially or entirely.
Key changes include:
- Adding restrictions on creating derivative works or offering services for sale.
- Explicit bans on circumventing protections using unauthorized software or hardware.
- Prohibition against installing or using unauthorized copies of Nintendo content.
Nintendo emphasizes that only activities aligned with official documentation and intended use are allowed—unless explicitly permitted by law or Nintendo itself. While average users aren’t affected, the move clearly targets modders, pirates, and emulators, signaling a crackdown on unauthorized usage of the Switch ecosystem.