Reddit mod ordered to pay Nintendo $4.5 million in Switch piracy lawsuit
Nintendo has secured a $4.5 million judgment against James Williams, a Reddit moderator known online as “archbox,” in a federal lawsuit centered on the distribution of pirated Nintendo Switch games. The default judgment was issued on Wednesday by a Washington federal judge, marking a significant enforcement action by the gaming giant against online piracy.
According to Nintendo’s complaint filed in 2024, Williams had become a leading moderator of the r/SwitchPirates subreddit community, where he allegedly solicited “donations” of Nintendo eShop gift cards and copies of Switch games for the purpose of copying and distributing them. The court-ordered judgment requires Williams to shut down the online stores that allegedly housed libraries of pirated Switch games.
The lawsuit represents Nintendo’s continued effort to combat digital piracy on its platforms. By taking legal action against a prominent community moderator, Nintendo is signaling its commitment to protecting its intellectual property and the official distribution channels for its games. The $4.5 million judgment serves as a substantial penalty and potential deterrent for others involved in similar piracy operations.