Nintendo Switch Modder to Pay $2M After Losing Piracy Case

A Michigan-based Nintendo console modder who defiantly continued his business despite formal warnings from Nintendo—and later chose to represent himself in court—has been ordered to pay $2 million in damages.

In July 2024, Nintendo filed a lawsuit against Ryan Daly, accusing him of operating Modded Hardware, a company that sold customized Switch consoles, pirated games, and piracy-enabling hardware like the MIG Switch.

Despite receiving an earlier cease-and-desist notice, Daly continued his operations, leading Nintendo to take legal action. Last October, court records revealed that Daly opted to defend himself in court without an attorney, denying any wrongdoing and presenting multiple arguments in his defense.

Nearly a year later, Nintendo has prevailed in the case. In a ruling dated September 5, Daly was ordered to pay $2 million in damages and subject to a permanent injunction banning him from engaging in any future activities that facilitate piracy.

The court determined that Daly, through Modded Hardware, sold mod chips, hacked consoles, and piracy-enabling devices that caused "significant and irreparable harm" to Nintendo of America. These products allowed unauthorized copies of Nintendo games to be created, distributed, and played on a massive scale. Court documents confirmed that Daly continued to represent himself throughout the proceedings.

Nintendo's legal victory is part of the company's ongoing efforts to combat piracy, following previous cases such as that of Gary Bowser—a former employee of a piracy-device company who was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay $14.5 million, a financial obligation he will likely carry for life.