On the very surface, this Nintendo MIG Switch Lawsuit might seem like a big company going after a small business owner, right? Well, that is how a lot of people are presenting it, but that is far from the actual truth. See, Ryan Daly was selling unethical pieces of hardware through this store, and it was hitting Nintendo’s profits quite a lot, or it could have damaged their sales by a huge margin in the coming few years or so, because it all started going viral. So, let’s get to know some crucial details of this case.
Who Is Ryan Daly, and What Was Modded Hardware?
First of all, Ryan Daly is a man from Michigan who was the owner of Modded Hardware, an online store. However, the store was not just selling gadgets in the usual way. He was essentially trading hacked gaming consoles over the internet, and in addition to that, he was offering products that allow users to hack their consoles, such as the MIG Switch and MIG Dumper, via his site.
So, what is the use of these devices? Essentially, they enable users to run hacked Nintendo games.
When Did It All Start?
The whole thing began in March 2024 when Nintendo discovered the products that were sold on the Modded Hardware website. They gave Ryan a cease-and-desist letter, which was, in fact, an order for him to quit at once or they would bring a lawsuit against him.
Ryan, however, did not cease his activities, but continued to sell those altered consoles and piracy devices.
In July 2024, Nintendo reached its limit. It took legal action against him. What were the charges? Violations of copyright! In their statement, Nintendo detailed that the defendant was the one who facilitated the theft of their software by the users through the devices that were modified. Moreover, the company was equipped with the full readiness to be at the trial.
No Lawyer? Yes, Really!
Here’s where things took an unexpected turn.
Ryan decided not to hire a lawyer and rather he took it upon himself to appear in the federal court. As a result, he was not accompanied by a lawyer, but he was facing the whole legal team of Nintendo in court.
He disagreed that he was doing something illegal and did his best to tell his version of the story. But if he didn’t have a lawyer, that attempt wouldn’t have gone far. The action was a dangerous one, and he was unlucky with that move.
What Did the Court Decide?
On September 5, 2025, the court rendered a decision and came to a verdict. The verdict statement? It was declared that Ryan Daly’s business/store made “major and non-repairable injury” to Nintendo.”
Here’s what the court ordered:
- What the court mandated is as follows:
- A fine of $2 million that Ryan Daly must pay.
- An injunction at the highest level against the sale or distribution of any products that can be used to hack or alter Nintendo products.
The cease and desist notice for the Modded Hardware operation, the website was removed from the internet, the domain was controlled by the court, and the piracy-related materials were either destroyed or given to Nintendo.
Why Is Nintendo So Aggressive About This?
What made Nintendo take such measures? The reason is very easy to understand: pirating seriously affects the earnings of the company. Creating games is an expensive process, so if people game without paying, it is like killing the revenue flow of Nintendo straight.
This is not the only example. In 2024, to be more specific, Nintendo sued the makers of the Yuzu emulator, and the court granted them a $2.4 million lawsuit. Besides, one more person, Gary Bowser, was sentenced to pay $14.5 million and was incarcerated for similar piracy-related misconduct.
