Buying Switch 2 Secondhand? Beware Nintendo's Anti-Piracy Solution That Has 'Bricked' Some Consoles, Fans Warn

Fans are informing others to beryllium mindful of Nintendo's caller anti-piracy argumentation erstwhile buying a secondhand Switch 2 — oregon hazard buying a console that's permanently stuck offline.

As reported earlier this month, Nintendo fans fishy the institution has begun blocking entree to each online functionality connected Switch 2 consoles that person utilized the MIG Switch flash paper — a instrumentality utilized to play unofficial copies of games.

This tactic, which is seemingly permanent, leaves a Switch 2 console displaying the mistake codification 2124-4508 erstwhile accessing immoderate online functions. Impacted consoles are incapable to download and play immoderate integer games oregon Game-Key cartridges, entree strategy updates oregon crippled updates, play utilizing online multiplayer, pass utilizing GameChat, oregon usage immoderate Nintendo Switch Online functionality, including the subscription's retro crippled catalogues.

If you're buying a Switch 2, you apt privation to bash immoderate of those things. And, unfortunately, idiosyncratic has already reported the archetypal lawsuit of picking up a pre-owned Switch 2 astatine a discount and uncovering they person been sold a console that's been banned.

Writing connected reddit, idiosyncratic Bimmytung reported buying a pre-owned Switch 2 from Walmart, and checking the container in-store to guarantee that everything physically looked arsenic it should.

"Physically it's fine, everything seems there," Bimmytung wrote. "Notice that the Mario Kart codification is scratched off. Hmm. Naturally wonderment if the archetypal purchaser redeemed the codification and returned the system. They knocked $50 disconnected the terms truthful I figured I'd rotation the dice and astatine slightest person the hardware. Bought a Pro Controller 2 portion I was astatine it.

"Get location and spell to decorativeness the setup - rapidly get Error Code 2124-4508. A speedy Google hunt shows maine I'm screwed. FML. Thankfully my section Walmart accepted the instrumentality without immoderate fuss but still... I privation thing but enthusiastic treble gonorrhea to the lowlife scum that did this."

As connection spreads of the MIG Switch card's risk, and arsenic much Switch 2 consoles get banned by Nintendo, the likelihood grows that further impacted consoles volition extremity up connected eBay, oregon successful secondhand retail shops.

Fans person suggested that anyone buying a secondhand Switch 2 console should present inquire for impervious the instrumentality inactive has entree to its online functionality, and an assurance the erstwhile proprietor had not utilized a MIG Switch previously, successful bid to debar being caught up successful a aboriginal prohibition wave.

Back successful May, up of Switch 2's launch, Nintendo updated its Nintendo Account Agreement to marque wide that immoderate effort to usage "hardware oregon bundle that would origin the Nintendo Account Services to run different than successful accordance with its documentation and intended use" risked "the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo instrumentality [becoming] permanently unusable successful full oregon successful part."

Still, reports that Nintendo was swiftly bringing down the prohibition hammer connected users who had inserted a MIG Switch into their console came arsenic a daze to galore Switch 2 owners, who recovered their caller purchases banned from accessing online functionality astir immediately.

IGN contacted Nintendo astatine the clip to inquire for much item connected the bans, but did not person a response. IGN has asked the institution contiguous for item connected what impacted customers should bash if they acquisition a blocked secondhand Switch 2, whether Nintendo would admit this concern and region bans, and whether the console shaper would contented guidance to retail chains that grip secondhand banal informing them of the situation.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social