Nintendo has updated its Terms of Service to warn users: unauthorized use of the Switch 2 could lead to full device bans. Yes, your console can be permanently disabled.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is gearing up to deliver a next-gen gaming leap with stronger hardware, enhanced social tools, and a robust library of exclusives. But one thing’s not changing: Nintendo’s aggressive stance on piracy. The company has never shied away from extreme measures to defend its IP, and it’s doubling down with a fresh update to its user policies.

As reported by Game File, Nintendo has modified its Terms of Service across several territories, adding clauses that give it the right to disable digital games—or even entire consoles—in cases of “unauthorized use.” The newly added language flags activities like reverse engineering, unofficial distribution, or modded hardware as triggers for serious penalties. In the U.S., the terms go even further, with Nintendo stating that accounts and devices can be made “permanently unusable” if users violate the rules.

New Privacy Rules and Voice Recording Policy

The terms update also includes privacy policy changes tied to the Switch 2’s upcoming Game Chat feature. Nintendo says it may store up to three minutes of voice or video when users report inappropriate behavior—but only with the user’s prior consent. The aim is to maintain a “safe and family-friendly” environment, but critics have already raised red flags about surveillance and moderation boundaries.

Yuzu, Citra, Ryujinx – Nintendo’s Crackdown Continues

Just over a year ago, Nintendo sued and shut down Yuzu, the most popular Switch emulator, claiming it enabled mass piracy of titles like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which was downloaded over a million times before its official release. The creators were ordered to pay $2.4 million in damages and also shut down Citra, their 3DS emulator. Ryujinx, another prominent emulator, met a similar fate and was closed months later.

Source: 3djuegos