Nintendo appears to have learned from the hacking troubles that plagued the original Switch. The first console faced major piracy issues, with hackers playing first-party games weeks before they officially launched. Since the Switch 2’s release in early June, many have wondered if the new device would have similar weaknesses. So far, reports suggest that Nintendo has put stronger protections in place.
Hackers have started sharing their experiences on social media, showing that Nintendo is banning modified consoles from going online. These bans stop people from using features like the eShop or online multiplayer in games such as Mario Kart World.
“Must be some new detection Nintendo has on these,” one Reddit user wrote after getting banned. “Pretty dumb of me to go online with it. That’s on me.”
This user said they tried using a flash cartridge—a type of device hackers used on the original Switch to load games onto an SD card. When they inserted the cartridge into the Switch 2, it failed to work properly. The cartridge wouldn’t load past the title screen after trying to install an update. The user later found that their console had been banned entirely. After contacting Nintendo support, they were told that nothing could be done to lift the ban.
“I don’t pirate games. I back up my legitimate games I own on cartridges,” the user added. “Piracy is bad. I work in software development.”
Nintendo has not yet responded to requests for comment on the issue.
Despite these bans, some hackers remain determined. Makers of flash cartridges say they are still working on ways to get their products to function with the Switch 2. Meanwhile, on Reddit forums focused on Switch 2 hacking, users are debating whether logging into old banned accounts could also put their new consoles at risk. Many are being extra cautious, not wanting to lose access to their new $450 systems.
