The first victim? Twink Link.
Nintendo’s notoriously strict stance on console modifications and “unauthorized behavior” has reached new heights — or lows — with the Switch 2. As one unfortunate player discovered, even a slightly cheeky username can be enough to get your entire system exiled from the Mushroom Kingdom forever.
A Reddit user who goes by Funaoe24 posted their harrowing tale this week, claiming their Nintendo Switch 2 received a permanent system ban — the kind so severe that not even Nintendo support can walk it back. The reason? Their sister allegedly renamed her username to “Twink Link,” a nickname that made the Nintendo customer support laugh before confirming that the ban was irreversible.
“Permanent system bans cannot be revoked by Nintendo at all,” they were reportedly told. It’s unclear if the ban was triggered by the name itself or by another policy violation in the background, but the outcome remains the same: this console is a $400 paperweight.
When Nintendo Says “Permanent,” They Mean It
What does a full Switch 2 ban actually do? It doesn’t just cut you off from multiplayer — it severs access to everything online. That means no eShop, no downloading of previously purchased games, no patches, no cloud saves (unless you already had them backed up). In essence, it’s a digital lobotomy.
Even worse, if you factory reset it, you’ll lose access to an offline games too. So Nintendo support’s advice for players stuck in this kind of limbo seems to be: return the console to the store and let someone else deal with it. In the Reddit post’s final edit, the user writes that Nintendo support told them to bring the system back to GameStop and hope for the best — a move that feels like passing off a cursed artifact.
The Broader Fallout: Mods, ROMs, and Brickings Galore
This isn’t an isolated incident. Other Switch 2 owners are reporting similar issues, particularly those using flash cartridges like Mig Flash — even when only running their own legally dumped ROMs. Nintendo’s updated policy warns that any use of unauthorized hardware or software, including mods or homebrew tools, may result in a ban that’s irreversible. The result: a wave of bricked consoles and zero recourse.
So, Who’s the Real Villain: Twink Link or Nintendo?
Sure, maybe naming your system after a cheeky fan descriptor of Hyrule’s favorite himbo wasn’t the best idea. But if that’s truly what got this console nuked from orbit, it paints a bleak picture of how humorless Nintendo has become about its brand. The irony? Twink Link was just trying to share Breath of the Wild with their family. Instead, they were forcibly logged out of the digital kingdom with no way back.
Moral of the Story?
Don’t mod your Switch. Don’t use funny names. Don’t sneeze too loudly while holding your Joy-Cons. In the age of the Switch 2, Nintendo has zero chill — and once you’re out, you’re out for good— And don’t buy secondhand Switch 2s!