Nintendo wins $4.5 million in Switch piracy lawsuit against Archbox

Nintendo has secured a $4.5 million judgment against James Williams, better recognised online as Archbox, following a legal dispute over the distribution of pirated Nintendo Switch games. The case began in 2024, when Nintendo accused Williams of operating online services offering unauthorised downloads of Switch titles and software used to bypass the console’s security protections. The ruling brings a financial penalty and a permanent injunction restricting Williams from distributing pirated Nintendo games or operating services connected to copyright infringement. It marks another step in Nintendo’s legal campaign against unauthorised game distribution, with the company securing damages for infringement involving 30 of its titles.

Nintendo secures $4.5 million after Archbox fails to respond

Nintendo filed its lawsuit against Williams in 2024, accusing him of running and promoting online piracy services. Williams, who previously moderated the r/SwitchPirates forum on Reddit, allegedly helped users access unauthorised copies of Nintendo Switch games through online platforms commonly referred to as Pirate Shops.

These services offered downloadable games outside Nintendo’s official distribution channels, often relying on software capable of bypassing the console’s built-in security measures. The case took a significant turn when Williams failed to respond to Nintendo’s lawsuit. The court entered a default judgment, allowing Nintendo to secure a ruling without a fully contested trial.

Nintendo had requested $4.5 million in damages, arguing the scale of the alleged infringement made it difficult to establish the precise financial impact. The company maintained the services involved had potentially facilitated thousands of unauthorised downloads, affecting games across its Switch catalogue. The court granted Nintendo’s requested damages. The figure doesn’t establish the exact number of games distributed or the revenue Nintendo lost through the services.

How Nintendo reached the $4.5 million damages figure

The US District Court for the Western District of Washington issued its judgment on 23 September 2026, awarding Nintendo statutory damages for copyright infringement involving 30 games. Each title accounted for $150,000, the maximum statutory amount available for wilful copyright infringement under US law. Combined, the individual awards brought Nintendo’s total damages to $4.5 million.

The games covered by the proceedings include major Switch releases such as Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Nintendo accused Williams of distributing copyrighted games without permission and providing software capable of circumventing technological protection measures. Its complaint covered copyright infringement, circumvention software and alleged violations of the console’s end-user licence agreement. The court’s judgment addresses the distribution of unauthorised games alongside the software and services used to access them.

Court orders closure of piracy services

The financial award isn’t the only consequence of the ruling. The court has issued a permanent injunction requiring Williams to disable access to online shops under his operation or control offering pirated Nintendo Switch games. The order extends to associated communication platforms, social media accounts and other services used to distribute unauthorised games or circumvention software.

Williams can no longer distribute, advertise, sell or provide unauthorised copies of Nintendo games through these services. The injunction prohibits him from supplying software intended to bypass Nintendo’s technological protection measures or encouraging activities covered by the court’s restrictions.

The order extends beyond the services named in the original complaint, preventing Williams from continuing the prohibited activities through alternative distribution channels. Nintendo has secured restrictions covering both the copyrighted material and the infrastructure used to distribute it.

Nintendo traced Archbox through Switch repair records

Williams’ identification became another significant element of the case. Nintendo reportedly connected the Archbox username to Williams through account information associated with a Nintendo Switch repair request. The repair records allegedly contained identifying details linking him to the online accounts involved in the piracy services.

Nintendo used the information during its investigation before pursuing legal action against Williams. The court’s ruling establishes the damages awarded and the restrictions imposed on his activities, but the financial outcome remains unresolved.

A judgment for $4.5 million doesn’t mean Nintendo has received the money. Recovering the awarded damages remains a separate process, and the amount Nintendo eventually collects has yet to be established.

What the Archbox ruling means for Nintendo Switch piracy

The Archbox case adds to Nintendo’s ongoing legal action against services distributing unauthorised Switch games and software intended to circumvent the console’s security protections. The judgment places direct restrictions on the piracy services associated with Williams, requiring their closure and prohibiting further distribution of copyrighted games through the affected platforms.

Nintendo has secured a $4.5 million damages award and a permanent injunction covering the activities identified in its complaint. The immediate legal outcome is settled, with enforcement of the court’s order and collection of the financial award forming the next stage of the case.

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