Latest news with #piracy
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Switch 2 owners using Mig Flash cartridges say Nintendo is bricking their new consoles, even if they're only using the carts for their own ROMs rather than pirated games
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Believe it or not, Nintendo apparently isn't taking too kindly to Switch 2 owners using cartridges on their new consoles that can be used to play pirated Switch games, as some users claim that inserting a certain flash cart has led to their new hardware getting banned. The MIG Switch (or MIG Flash) is a physical cartridge that can be inserted into Switch consoles to load and play Switch games which have been downloaded onto it – be that via files dumped from games purchased by the user, or pirated copies found online. Think of the R4 cards that could be used on the Nintendo DS systems, and it's basically the same idea. With Nintendo's strong anti-piracy stance, which it has really doubled down on in recent years with the various legal battles it's engaged in, you can understand why the company might not be particularly happy about people using these flash carts, and it seems like it might be taking action. "My Switch 2 test has been banned, after using the MIG Switch with perfectly legal dumps of my own cartridges, so it would seem that Nintendo can detect something," Twitter user @SwitchTools writes, sharing an image of their console displaying error code 2124-4508, with a message explaining that "the use of online services on this console is currently restricted by Nintendo." As per Nintendo's support page, this error "indicates that the Nintendo Switch console you are using has been permanently banned from connecting to the internet due to a breach of the user agreements." SwitchTools adds: "I strongly recommend that you do not use the MIG Switch, it was already very risky to use but it is even more so on Switch 2." Others on Reddit have also reported bans after using the cartridge, with one writing: "Just wanted to let everyone know to refrain from using their MIG Flash on the Switch 2 online for now. My Switch 2 was just banned (my account is fine for now). Only games I had were my backed up games. Must be some new detection Nintendo has on these MIG Switches." Another, confused over why their console had been banned, notes: "The only thing I can think what has happened is that I tried my MIG Switch in my NS2 once. It didn't work. It just showed the game title and refused to load. It tried to download a title update for it and that was it. Maybe it downloaded a flag for the console to be banned? This was over a week ago this happened though. I've been playing with a legitimate cartridge ever since though." They also clarify: "I don't pirate games, I back-up my legitimate games I own on cartridges. Piracy is shit." It's worth noting that it was only as of a few days ago that the MIG Switch actually became usable on Switch 2 at all, as a result of a new firmware update for the cartridge. These ban reports all appear to have happened in the last 24 hours, after this MIG Switch firmware update was rolled out. We'll have to watch this space to see if this continues to affect more users – it's not clear how Nintendo might be able to detect the use of the cartridges. Be sure to check out our Switch 2 review, as well as our roundup of the best Switch 2 games you can play now.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
After just 12 days, Nintendo is already nuking Switch 2 console accounts for players caught using Mig Flash — popular cartridge allows Switch 1 games on the new console, but users say they're only using their own ROMs
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Various user reports suggest that Nintendo is actively issuing bans to Switch 2 consoles that have been used with the MIG Switch (now MIG Flash) flash cart. Several affected users have reached out on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, sharing accounts of their consoles being banned from using Nintendo's online services after using the device. Despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise, MIG Flash (formerly MIG-Switch) showcased Nintendo Switch 1 ROMs running on Switch 2 hardware. This functionality is believed to be achieved through a recent firmware update, which mitigated or bypassed whatever new security checks Nintendo introduced with its latest console. The MIG-Switch is a specialized, reprogrammable cartridge that's designed to mimic a real Nintendo Switch cartridge, but allows you to store your own game ROMs or backups on its microSD card. This essentially enables you to hold multiple game copies on a single cartridge, letting you conveniently switch between them with the help of a button. That being said, it isn't as simple as dumping pirated copies on a MIG-Switch and calling it a day since Nintendo has robust anti-piracy measures in place, often through unique cartridge identifiers. If two users attempt to play the same game online simultaneously using a single copy, Nintendo can flag this as piracy. As you can expect, this likely has led to many false positives, especially in the case of used cartridges. It appears the Switch 2 is even stricter on this front, as there are now widespread reports of users being banned even when using what they purport as their own legitimately dumped game ROMs on the MIG-Switch. While users' Nintendo accounts reportedly remain unaffected, their consoles are now blocked from accessing Nintendo's online services. That means saying goodbye to Mario Kart World, the eShop, YouTube, cloud saves, and the list goes on. Firmware updates are generally not encompassed by these restrictions, but we cannot say for sure without more verified cases. There is a chance Nintendo may reinstate these consoles, as they were most likely caused by the changes introduced with the latest MIG-Switch firmware, rather than users booting up pirated ROMs. Regardless, the MIG-Switch isn't a Nintendo-authorized accessory, meaning that the company likely has no legal obligation to reverse these bans. As a matter of fact, Nintendo's updated EULA reserves the right to effectively brick your console in case of unauthorized hardware/software modifications. Contacting Nintendo Support might prove worthwhile, but we won't hold our breaths on it. It isn't technically a $449 paper weight, as you can still play offline titles, but that's a major compromise given the Switch 2 has been available for less than two weeks. Given Nintendo's release cycle, users who upgrade once per generation and face a ban on their Switch 2 might have to forego online services for several years, depending on when the Switch 2's successor launches. Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Serie A chief blames illegal streaming for Italy's decline
June 18 (Reuters) - Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo has pointed to illegal streaming and the resulting lack of TV revenue as a factor behind Italy's struggles to nurture homegrown talent as the Azzurri strive to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Once a permanent fixture at the World Cup, four-times world champions Italy find themselves in dire straits having missed out on the last two editions and at risk of missing out on a third after losing their first qualifier against Norway. Italian authorities recently intensified efforts to counter online piracy, which is costing billions of euros to broadcasters and sports leagues globally as they try to protect the value of their broadcast rights. TV rights make up the bulk of revenue for Serie A teams and De Siervo said "there is still a mountain to climb" after they lost revenue to the tune of 300 million euros ($345.15 million) last year. "Many question why our national team is in this situation and why there is a lack of talent, one reason being the losses due to piracy," De Siervo said at an event on the fight against piracy. "All the money that is lost every year is not invested in the youth teams and in the growth of our young players, a major issue that has led our national team to face many difficulties. "In addition to this, the age-old facilities do not allow the clubs and the system to obtain high revenues. This has to be changed and this law goes in the right direction." De Siervo said if they continue to lose revenue, Italy and Serie A could tumble down UEFA's coefficient rankings. "We are already far behind the Premier League and the Spanish LaLiga," he added. "If we continue like this, we will finish behind the Germans and we will end up being at the bottom of the table (of Europe's top five leagues) together with the French." ($1 = 0.8692 euros)
CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Serie A chief blames illegal streaming for Italy's decline
Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo has pointed to illegal streaming and the resulting lack of TV revenue as a factor behind Italy's struggles to nurture homegrown talent as the Azzurri strive to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Once a permanent fixture at the World Cup, four-times world champions Italy find themselves in dire straits having missed out on the last two editions and at risk of missing out on a third after losing their first qualifier against Norway. Italian authorities recently intensified efforts to counter online piracy, which is costing billions of euros to broadcasters and sports leagues globally as they try to protect the value of their broadcast rights. TV rights make up the bulk of revenue for Serie A teams and De Siervo said "there is still a mountain to climb" after they lost revenue to the tune of 300 million euros ($345.15 million) last year. "Many question why our national team is in this situation and why there is a lack of talent, one reason being the losses due to piracy," De Siervo said at an event on the fight against piracy. "All the money that is lost every year is not invested in the youth teams and in the growth of our young players, a major issue that has led our national team to face many difficulties. "In addition to this, the age-old facilities do not allow the clubs and the system to obtain high revenues. This has to be changed and this law goes in the right direction." De Siervo said if they continue to lose revenue, Italy and Serie A could tumble down UEFA's coefficient rankings. "We are already far behind the Premier League and the Spanish LaLiga," he added. "If we continue like this, we will finish behind the Germans and we will end up being at the bottom of the table (of Europe's top five leagues) together with the French."
The Verge
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Nintendo is banning online services on Switch 2 systems that use the Mig cartridge
Whether you're pirating games, or playing copies of games you own, Nintendo thinks you're guilty. Whether you're pirating games, or playing copies of games you own, Nintendo thinks you're guilty. Some Switch 2 owners have received the error code 2134-4508, which results in their consoles being permanently banned from accessing any of its online services, as spotted by IGN . It's not a ban hammer from sucking at Mario Kart World , thankfully for me, but one that's targeting consoles that have used a Mig – a microSD card-equipped Switch cartridge that can be filled with copies of games. Running games on the Mig requires you to download them from others who have dumped files off of cartridges, or dump the games yourself with something like the Mig Dumper, then load them onto a microSD card. Whether you've used one to play pirated games, or to play copies of games that you own, Nintendo's stance on the matter is broad: It considers both to be violations of its user agreements. The makers of the Mig cartridge have taken reasonable efforts to distance itself from what a majority of buyers will likely do with it, which is play pirated games. The cartridge's product page notes that it 'serves as a backup and development device solely supporting gaming using personal game backups. [...] To maintain the Mig Flash warranty during online play, it's essential to utilize self-dumped backups with authentic Certificate, UID, and Card Set ID.' Nintendo isn't bricking the consoles of offenders, at least, not immediately. YouTube creator Scattered Brain posted a video about their banned Switch 2 in which they tried to find a way around the ban. Attempting to visit the eShop wasn't possible, nor was unlinking an account from the console, since both activities require the internet. They were able to unlink Virtual Game Cards from their Switch 2 from Nintendo's account management site and load them onto a Switch OLED, suggesting that the ban is limited to the hardware and not the account. However, a factory reset essentially bricked their Switch 2, as it no longer allowed signing into any Nintendo Account. This is something that Nintendo reserves the right to do per its updated account services user agreement and privacy policy. No one, but especially Mig users, should be surprised about this ban. Nintendo has a rich history of aggressively pursuing those who pirate its games, as well as those who build emulators that can run pirated copies of games originally made for its platforms. Considering that the Switch 2 is the fastest-selling console of all time, Nintendo's clearly throwing everything it's got at making sure gamers are playing by its rules. See More: Entertainment Gaming News Nintendo
