Thankfully, this time it was reversible.
For one excited Nintendo fan, the launch of the Switch 2 turned sour fast — and all because they bought a few games secondhand.
The user, who goes by dmanthey on Reddit, had barely gotten through setup before their brand-new console was hit with an online service ban. The reason? Nintendo’s system flagged several used Switch 1 cartridges as pirated. They weren’t — at least, not knowingly — but that didn’t stop the company’s DRM from locking the device out of digital services.
After contacting customer support and submitting proof of purchase for the secondhand games (screenshots of their Facebook Marketplace transaction, among other things), the ban was eventually lifted. Still, the ordeal highlights just how unforgiving Nintendo’s anti-piracy protections have become — and how easy it is to get caught in the crossfire.
A New Era of Console Control
Nintendo has long been aggressive in its approach to piracy, but the Switch 2 takes things a step further. Recent updates to its user agreement give the company the right to render its online services “permanently unusable” if it believes a user is engaging in piracy or hardware modification. The terms are broad. The enforcement, apparently, is automated. And the appeals process depends entirely on whether you kept your receipts.
In dmanthey’s case, the problem was likely that the cartridges they bought — while appearing genuine — had been tampered with or were unofficial reproductions. Nintendo’s system picked up on it, assumed the worst, and locked the account down.
But that assumption has consequences. If dmanthey hadn’t had proof of where the games came from, their Switch 2 could still be in lockdown.
When Secondhand Means Suspicious
The story serves as a warning to anyone picking up used Switch titles to play on the new console. The Switch 2 may be compatible with physical games from the original system, but compatibility doesn’t mean trust. Nintendo’s DRM appears sensitive enough that even an unwitting encounter with a counterfeit cart could flag your entire account.
More worrying is how little recourse players seem to have if something goes wrong. Nintendo doesn’t notify users of which cart triggered the flag. It doesn’t ask for clarification. It just bans you — then waits to see if you can prove your innocence.
Ownership, Redefined
This isn’t just a headache for people shopping the secondhand market. It’s a stark reminder of the changing definition of “ownership” in the modern console ecosystem. The Switch 2 may be Nintendo’s fastest-selling hardware yet, but for users, it’s increasingly clear the device is something closer to a lease — with Nintendo holding the keys.
If your $700 console can be deactivated because of a game you bought in good faith at a garage sale, what do you actually own?
And if it can happen this easily, it will probably happen again. Hopefully Nintendo will take the hint and ease off, but they’re not famous for being forgiving.