FBI Targets ROM Sites in Game Piracy Crackdown
Multiple major ROM sites have been shut down by the FBI in a new global crackdown on video game piracy. The most well-known target was NSW2U, a site that let users download Nintendo Switch ROMs for free. It was popular for pirated titles like Pokémon Scarlet and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. On July 18, 2025, the FBI seized the site along with several others, including nswdl.com, game-2u.com, and ps4pkg.net. Nintendo pushed hard for the takedown, calling it a win for game developers and the legal market. This marks one of the largest anti-piracy operations the video game industry has seen in years.
What happened, and which ROM sites were shut down?
NSW2U was one of the most popular ROM sites for Nintendo Switch games. It offered free downloads of pirated titles, letting users play games like Pokémon Scarlet and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom without paying. On July 18, 2025, the site was taken offline by the FBI and Dutch financial investigators. Anyone visiting NSW2U now sees a seizure notice from U.S. authorities.
The FBI later confirmed that NSW2U and related domains were responsible for over 3.2 million illegal downloads during a three-month period. These downloads caused an estimated $170 million in lost sales.
As part of the same operation, several other ROM sites were also shut down. These included:
- nsw2u.com
- nswdl.com
- game-2u.com
- bigngame.com
- ps4pkg.com
- ps4pkg.net
- mgnetu.com
Each of these domains is now offline and displays a banner stating that the site has been seized by federal authorities. All were involved in hosting or distributing pirated game files, including Nintendo Switch ROMs and PlayStation game packages.
Nintendo played a key role in pushing the shutdown
While the FBI and Dutch authorities led the enforcement effort, Nintendo was the main force behind the push. The company has spent years fighting piracy, especially after the original Switch was hacked early in its lifecycle. Sites like NSW2U made it easy for players to download full copies of games like Pokémon Scarlet, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Tears of the Kingdom without paying. Nintendo has called these shutdowns a win for the industry and a necessary step to protect developers and the legal marketplace.
This is not an isolated move. Nintendo has a long history of aggressive legal action. In 2024, it sued the creators of the Yuzu emulator, which let users run Switch games on PC and handhelds like the Steam Deck. It also pursued smaller ROM-hosting sites and third-party sellers who offered tools to bypass Switch security.
More recently, Nintendo filed a patent infringement lawsuit in Japan against Palworld, a popular monster-collecting game often compared to Pokémon. The lawsuit claims that Palworld copies specific gameplay mechanics that Nintendo patented in Japan. The patent covers a system where the player can switch between two modes: one for throwing a capture item and one for sending a combat character into battle. While some fans dismissed the case as petty, it reflects how serious Nintendo is about protecting its ideas.
Even though Nintendo’s U.S. version of the patent was recently rejected for being too abstract, the company is expected to revise and refile. Meanwhile, Palworld’s developers have already changed parts of the game to avoid further conflict. Fans have reacted with frustration, accusing Nintendo of going too far and even calling for boycotts. Still, the Switch 2 remains the fastest-selling Nintendo console in history, showing that legal pushback has not hurt its momentum.
Taken together, these moves show just how far Nintendo is willing to go to control its platform and IP. From seizing piracy sites to filing international lawsuits, the company continues to take a hardline stance, even when it risks public backlash.
Is downloading ROMs illegal?
Yes, downloading ROMs of commercial games is illegal in most cases. A ROM is a digital copy of a game’s data, and if you download it from an unofficial source, you are violating copyright law. This includes Nintendo Switch games, classic Pokémon titles, and games from older systems like the Game Boy or NES.
Some people believe it is okay to download a ROM if they already own the game or if the game is no longer sold. Legally, that is not true. In the eyes of the law, downloading a copyrighted game from a pirate site is the same as stealing a physical copy from a store. Even though emulators are legal, they become a problem when used with pirated ROMs.
Nintendo has made its position clear. It treats all unauthorized downloads of its games as copyright violations, no matter how old the title is. That is why the company has shut down sites offering everything from new Switch games to classic Game Boy ROMs.
What about fan-made ROM hacks?
Fan-made ROM hacks are a bit different. These are modified versions of existing games, often created by players who want to add new levels, fix bugs, or tell new stories. Most are shared for free and require players to patch a copy of the original game themselves.
Even so, they still use copyrighted material and can be taken down. Nintendo has removed many fan projects, even when they were made out of love for the games. While not the same as piracy, fan ROMs are still legally risky.
Nintendo has a long history of targeting fan games and mods that use its characters, names, or assets, even if they are non-commercial. Here are a few notable examples:
- AM2R (Another Metroid 2 Remake)
- Pokémon Uranium
- Super Mario 64 Online
- Zelda 30 Tribute
- Pokémon Prism
- No Mario’s Sky (renamed DMCA’s Sky)
These actions show that Nintendo does not make exceptions for fan creations, no matter how well made or respectful they are. The company defends these moves as necessary to protect its intellectual property.
Final thoughts
The recent shutdown of major ROM sites like NSW2U shows just how serious Nintendo is about protecting its games, its hardware, and its intellectual property. From teaming up with the FBI to filing international lawsuits, the company is using every legal tool available to crack down on piracy and enforce its rights.
Downloading ROMs may seem harmless to some players, especially when the games are no longer being sold, but the law treats it as copyright infringement. Even fan-made projects, which often come from a place of passion and creativity, are not safe from takedowns. Nintendo has a long history of removing these projects, regardless of their quality or intent.
While the legal risks are clear, this moment also raises important questions about game preservation, fan creativity, and access to older titles. For now, though, the message is simple: if you want to avoid trouble, support games through legal platforms and keep your downloads clean.
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Patrick Yu is a Senior Project Manager at Level Interactive and has 8 years of experience writing business, legal, lifestyle, gaming, and technology articles. He is a significant contributor to Acer Corner and is currently based in Taipei, Taiwan.
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