Nintendo’s $4.5 Million Piracy Lawsuit Targets Reddit Moderator Over Switch Games

Nintendo’s relentless war on piracy has reached a new milestone, with the gaming giant seeking $4.5 million in damages from a Reddit user accused of moderating a subreddit dedicated to sharing illegal Nintendo Switch game files.

The case, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington on October 3, represents one of the most aggressive copyright enforcement actions Nintendo of America has taken to date.

The defendant, James C. Williams, known online as Archbox, is alleged to have run a now-defunct subreddit where users openly exchanged and distributed pirated Nintendo Switch titles. Nintendo argues that his activities caused substantial harm to its business and that of its partners – including developers, publishers, and thousands of creative professionals who depend on legitimate game sales to make a living. In the company’s filing, Nintendo claims the $4.5 million figure doesn’t even begin to reflect the true scope of the damages.

This lawsuit isn’t an isolated act. It follows a long history of Nintendo’s firm stance against piracy – a position that has only hardened with the upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. The company has consistently pursued both individuals and organizations facilitating unauthorized distribution of its games. In 2024 alone, Nintendo successfully forced the closure of major emulators like Yuzu and Ryujinx, which allowed PC players to run Switch games without owning the console or purchasing official copies. These actions signaled a clear message: Nintendo intends to protect its ecosystem at all costs.

Williams is not the only target. Court filings from July 2024 revealed that Nintendo also sought permission to subpoena records from several major online service providers – including NameCheap, GoDaddy, Tucows, Cloudflare, GitHub, Discord, Google, and Reddit – to uncover other individuals involved in distributing or promoting pirated Switch content. The move underscores Nintendo’s willingness to go beyond surface-level offenders and dismantle the broader infrastructure that enables game piracy.

For the gaming community, the case has reignited a heated debate about where enforcement ends and overreach begins. Some argue that Nintendo’s uncompromising tactics discourage piracy and protect game developers’ livelihoods, while others believe the company’s legal aggression borders on intimidation. Regardless, the case of Archbox highlights a sobering reality: pirating Nintendo games can destroy your finances – and your life.