Switch 2 user unexpectedly had his account banned by Nintendo after buying an old game cartridge

Warning Switch 2 gamers that buying old game cartridges can cause their accounts to be "unfairly deleted".

According to Engadget , the newly launched Nintendo Switch 2 with backward compatibility with games from the old system is great news. However, a recent incident shows that buying used game cartridges, a cost-saving habit of many gamers, has the potential to cause your Nintendo account to be banned without you knowing.

Switch 2 is backward compatible with old game cartridges

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

A story from a Switch 2 user

A Reddit user named dmanthey shared his story. After buying some used Switch 1 cartridges on Facebook Marketplace, he inserted them into his new Switch 2 to download patches. Everything seemed normal until the next day, when he discovered he couldn’t access online services.

After contacting Nintendo support, he was confirmed that his account had been banned. Fortunately, after providing proof of purchase, he was quickly unbanned. However, the incident has raised alarm bells about a dangerous precedent.

Loopholes from anti-piracy mechanisms

The root cause of this is Nintendo’s approach to piracy. Each physical game cartridge contains unique code. Hackers can copy all the game data and that code onto a copying device (like the MIG Flash), then resell the original cartridge on the secondhand market.

Buying old Switch game cartridges online can easily get your account locked by Nintendo

PHOTO: PRINTABLES SCREENSHOT

The problem occurs when both the pirate and you (the original game purchaser) are online at the same time. Nintendo’s system will detect that two devices are using the same code and will automatically ban all related accounts to prevent it. As a result, the unlucky legitimate purchaser becomes the victim.

Nintendo's "iron fist" policy

Nintendo is known for its tough stance against piracy. Recently, the company even updated its user agreement to give it the right to brick a Switch that is caught running pirated games. This suggests that Nintendo won’t hold back, and its automated mechanism may get even stricter in the future.

While dmanthey’s case was resolved, it’s still a clear warning. Buying used cartridges, especially from shady sources, puts your account at risk. Consider the potential savings versus the possibility of getting your account banned.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mua-bang-game-cu-nguoi-dung-switch-2-bat-ngo-bi-nintendo-cam-tai-khoan-185250713091846099.htm