Video game

Nintendo accuses hackers of selling products allowing gamers to play pirated video games – Daily Mail


Nintendo sues hackers who allegedly sell products allowing gamers to play pirated video games on the Switch and Switch Lite

  • Nintendo is taking aim at hackers selling video game pirating kits
  • New lawsuits allege a group called ‘Team Xecuter’ is selling an ‘unauthorized operating system’ and other hacking products
  • A site named in the suit has stopped selling pre-orders of hacking kits 

Nintendo is taking legal action against hackers who sell software enabling people to play pirated video games.

According to court documents obtained by Polygon, two lawsuits were filed last week in the US against alleged hackers in Ohio and Washington.

The defendants, Nintendo’s lawsuit claims, are associated with a group of anonymous hackers called ‘Team Xecuter’ who provide the pirating products.

According to court documents, the products allow people to circumvent ‘technological protection measures’ designed to prevent Nintendo’s games from being copied or accessed.

Nintendo is suing two hackers that it alleges are connected to a group that sells kits allowing people to play pirated video games

Nintendo is suing two hackers that it alleges are connected to a group that sells kits allowing people to play pirated video games  

Once Nintendo’s safeguards are bypassed, players can download a modified operating system and play games that have been pirated. 

The products, which are sold on sites like UBERChips – which is named in a lawsuit – sell for as little as $48.

As noted by Polygon, UBERChips was already offering pre-orders for kits that hack the Nintendo Switch Lite – a more dedicated handheld system – as well as newer models of the Switch with different safeguards.

A message on the UBERchips website says that it is now refunding customers who purchased pre-orders for the newest hacking kits.

‘I am sorry to inform everyone, but we must refund all pre-orders and cancel all pre-orders for SX Core and SX Lite,’ reads the message.

‘We will begin processing refunds IMMEDIATELY.’

Nintendo is reportedly seeking $2,5000 per trafficking violation according to court documents.

This isn’t the first time in recent months that Nintendo has brushed up against hackers looking to exploit aspects of its gaming ecosystem. 

Nintendo has also contended with unauthorized access of some of its customers' online accounts. It reset passwords for those affected and is encouraging two-factor authentication for Nintendo online accounts (stock)

Nintendo has also contended with unauthorized access of some of its customers’ online accounts. It reset passwords for those affected and is encouraging two-factor authentication for Nintendo online accounts (stock)

Last month, Nintendo confirmed that 160,000 user accounts were accessed in a wave of hacks.

The company says that the account passwords were ‘obtained illegally by some means other than our service’ and were used to access accounts and make fraudulent purchases.

In addition, the company said dates of birth, email addresses and nicknames may have also been accessed in the process. 

The increase in reports of unauthorized access of Nintendo accounts coincides with an uptick in the number of people using the company’s online service as people are forced to stay indoors to coronavirus lockdown. 



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