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Nintendo has secured a $2 million settlement with a Michigan man accused of running an online operation that sold modified Nintendo Switch consoles and devices enabling users to play pirated games. The deal, filed Friday in Seattle federal court, permanently bans Ryan Daly from distributing, selling, or engineering products tied to digital piracy.

The final judgment, jointly submitted by both sides, includes a sweeping injunction. Daly can no longer sell "modded" hardware, provide tools like the MIG Switch or MIG Dumper, or attempt to bypass Nintendo’s protective measures.

“Irreparable Harm” Claimed by Nintendo

Nintendo of America told the court Daly’s actions caused the company “significant and irreparable harm.” His website, moddedhardware.com, allegedly operated as a hub for piracy, giving the public easy access to unauthorized Nintendo titles on a massive scale.

The order bars Daly not only from selling or distributing illegal devices but also from reverse-engineering any Nintendo console or concealing pirated game files.

Neither Nintendo nor Daly responded to requests for comment on Monday.

Linked Case Against Reddit Moderator

Nintendo filed its lawsuit against Daly on June 28, 2024, the same day it sued James Williams, a Reddit user accused of enabling widespread piracy as a moderator of the online community r/SwitchPirates. That forum, still active with roughly 249,000 members, describes itself as “a community of pirates, for pirates.”

While Daly has chosen to represent himself, the Williams case remains ongoing. U.S. District Judge Lauren King previously authorized Nintendo to subpoena eight internet service providers as it pushed for a potential default judgment. Williams later made an appearance through counsel, keeping the case alive.

Legal Teams Behind the Fight

Nintendo is represented by James Berkley, Marc Mayer, and Mark Humphrey of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP, along with Mark Walters of Lowe Graham Jones PLLC. Daly, by contrast, is representing himself.

What the $2M Deal Means

With the Nintendo $2M Deal, the gaming giant delivers a stern warning to digital pirates and modders alike: its intellectual property will be fiercely protected. The settlement effectively shuts down Daly’s operation and sets a legal precedent that mirrors Nintendo’s broader war against piracy across online communities.