Nintendo has recently updated its user agreement, implementing stricter policies against players who hack their Switch console, use emulators, or engage in other forms of "unauthorized use." As reported by Game File, emails have been sent out to players announcing that the "Nintendo Account Agreement and the Nintendo Account Privacy Policy" have been revised. These new rules, effective as of May 7, supersede all previous versions and apply to both existing and new Nintendo Account users. According to the report, approximately 100 changes have been made to the agreement.
Prior to May 6, the user agreement prohibited users from leasing, renting, sublicensing, publishing, copying, modifying, adapting, translating, reverse engineering, decompiling, or disassembling any part of the Nintendo Account Services without Nintendo's written consent or unless otherwise permitted by law.
The updated agreement in the U.S. has expanded this section significantly, stating:
"Without limitation, you agree that you may not (a) publish, copy, modify, reverse engineer, lease, rent, decompile, disassemble, distribute, offer for sale, or create derivative works of any portion of the Nintendo Account Services; (b) bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent any of the functions or protections of the Nintendo Account Services, including through the use of any hardware or software that would cause the Nintendo Account Services to operate other than in accordance with its documentation and intended use; (c) obtain, install or use any unauthorized copies of Nintendo Account Services; or (d) exploit the Nintendo Account Services in any manner other than to use them in accordance with the applicable documentation and intended use, in each case, without Nintendo’s written consent or express authorization, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law. You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with the foregoing restrictions Nintendo may render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part."
In the UK, as highlighted by Nintendo Life, the agreement differs slightly, stating that:
"Any Digital Products registered to your Nintendo Account and any updates of such Digital Products are licensed only for personal and non-commercial use on a User Device. Digital Products must not be used for any other purpose. In particular, without NOE's written consent, you must neither lease nor rent Digital Products nor sublicense, publish, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble any portion of Digital Products other than as expressly permitted by applicable law. Such unauthorised use of a Digital Product may result in the Digital Product becoming unusable."
While the term "unusable" remains undefined by Nintendo, the language implies that the company now has the authority to potentially "brick" a user's console if it detects rule violations. Additionally, the updated privacy policy indicates that Nintendo may monitor Switch users' online chats to ensure a "safe and family-friendly online environment" and to identify breaches of the Nintendo Account Agreement and other harmful or illegal activities.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
View 91 Images
These revisions may be a response to Nintendo's recent struggles with high-profile piracy cases, as well as the upcoming launch of the eagerly awaited Nintendo Switch 2, scheduled for June 5. Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 opened on April 24, maintaining a price of $449.99, and were met with overwhelming demand. Nintendo has also cautioned U.S. customers who pre-ordered through the My Nintendo Store that delivery on the release date is not guaranteed due to high demand. For more information, check out IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide.
