Nintendo has filed a motion requesting a $4.5 million default judgment against James "Archbox" Williams for operating websites distributing pirated Switch games, citing his failure to respond to the ongoing lawsuit. This action, following a $2 million settlement against Modded Hardware and the FBI's seizure of the NSw2u pirated game repository, underscores Nintendo's aggressive and escalating campaign to protect its intellectual property and combat piracy across its gaming ecosystem. The motion is scheduled for a hearing on October 24, signaling continued robust enforcement efforts within the digital entertainment sector.
On October 3, Nintendo filed a motion requesting that James "Archbox" Williams, a known Switch pirate, pay the company $4.5 million in damages for operating websites that offered users copies of pirated games. Nintendo stated that Williams has not responded to its ongoing lawsuit against him, and asked the US District Court in Seattle to weigh in. The case against Williams dates back to 2024, when Nintendo first filed a lawsuit against him for allegedly selling and distributing pirated Nintendo Switch games. Nintendo stated that Williams utilized websites dubbed "pirate shops" as part of his business. Williams also served as a moderator of the SwitchPirates subreddit, which subsequently led to him being tracked down by Nintendo. The company used Williams' own social media posts and Nintendo console repair history to find him at his residence in the Phoenix, Arizona area. After being served by Nintendo, Williams failed to enter a plea in court, and a default judgment was granted to the company. Nintendo Requests $4.5 Million in Damages From Archbox After winning a $2 million settlement against Modded Hardware earlier in 2025, Nintendo's campaign against piracy is not stopping anytime soon. In a filing with the US District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle, Nintendo requested a motion for a default judgment in its favor against Williams for $4.5 million. Nintendo argued that Williams had not responded to the lawsuit against him, although he retained legal counsel as a way to intervene in any third-party subpoenas. Nintendo stated that, since Williams has not taken action to contest the default judgment handed down in November 2024, the company claimed that monetary damages are justified. As of this writing, the motion from Nintendo against Williams is set to be heard on Friday, October 24. The latest lawsuit from Nintendo is part of its ongoing crackdown against video game piracy. In July 2025, one of the largest repositories of pirated Switch games and ROMs, NSw2u, was seized by the FBI after five years of operation. The FBI worked with the FIOD, a Dutch investigative unit, in its seizure of NSw2u. Days later, the FBI acknowledged its involvement and cooperation with the FIOD in taking down NSw2u via an official statement. It is unclear if Nintendo had any involvement with the NSw2u seizure. Nintendo's anti-piracy measures also go beyond the courtroom, as the Switch 2 console can be bricked by Nintendo if piracy or tampering has been suspected. With the Switch 2 entering its fifth month on the market, time will tell what measures Nintendo will take to protect its intellectual property. Nintendo Switch - Brand - Nintendo - Battery - 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required - Dimensions - 13.7 x 7.8 x 3.66 inches - Weight - 2.65 pounds Source: Court Listener Nintendo is executing a deliberate and aggressive multi-pronged strategy to combat intellectual property theft, underscored by its recent motion for a $4.5 million default judgment against an individual operator of pirated game websites. This action is not isolated, but rather part of a broader crackdown that includes a $2 million settlement with Modded Hardware in early 2025 and the recent FBI-led seizure of the NSw2u pirate repository. The company's approach combines legal enforcement with technological safeguards, notably the ability to remotely disable ('brick') its new Switch 2 consoles if tampering is detected. This comprehensive effort to protect its hardware and software ecosystem is critical for safeguarding high-margin software revenues, particularly during the crucial early months of the Switch 2's market presence. The strongly positive sentiment signal (0.65) indicates that these robust enforcement measures are viewed as constructively de-risking the company's business model and reinforcing the long-term value of its content library.
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