Nintendo won its lawsuit against Ryan Daly, owner of Modded Hardware, in July 2024. The company alleged that Daly sold modded hardware that allowed players to install pirated games on Switch consoles. Nintendo demanded that Daly stop selling mods, but he refused. The case was settled, and Nintendo prevailed.

Nintendo Declares War on Modder

The court ordered Daly to pay Nintendo $2 million in damages. In addition to this ruling, a permanent injunction was issued against Daly, preventing him from selling modded consoles or mods, or sharing any information or documentation on how to install mods.

According to allegations made during the lawsuit, Daly not only sold modded devices but also provided pirated games to his customers. The lawsuit also alleges that Daly pirated Nintendo’s most popular games, such as Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid, onto the consoles.

This case further demonstrates the commitment of game console manufacturers to protecting their intellectual property rights. Nintendo has historically taken an aggressive stance against pirated software and hardware modifications.

The company argues that such actions harm both game developers and its own commercial interests. High compensation awards act as a deterrent to other individuals and groups engaging in similar activities.

The decision highlights the importance of maintaining the security of physical hardware in an era when the digital gaming market is growing rapidly. Nintendo states that such mods not only enable pirated games but also facilitate cheating on online game servers.

Such mods negatively impact other players’ experiences and undermine the integrity of Nintendo’s ecosystem. With this decision, the company aims to provide a safe and fair platform for its players.