Nintendo has increased its measures against piracy on the Switch 2, recently adding terms in its EULA allowing the company to disable consoles it deems misused. Many new owners report losing all online functionality after Nintendo detected use of unauthorized MiG cartridges.
A Reddit user purchased a pre-owned Switch 2 from Walmart, only to find the console blocked from online features due to prior MiG cart use. Though Walmart accepted the return, this incident highlights risks when buying secondhand Switch 2 consoles, especially from private sellers.
MiG carts, popular for running pirated or homebrew games without jailbreaking, remain a target for Nintendo. Despite backward compatibility updates allowing Switch 1 games on Switch 2, Nintendo’s system detects unauthorized carts and disables online services. This blocks access to game downloads, multiplayer, software updates, and essential checks for legitimate gaming.
This policy affects legitimate users of homebrew content and could face legal challenges. Meanwhile, the resale market faces uncertainty since buyers cannot verify console status easily, complicating secondhand purchases during the Switch 2’s initial scarcity at official retailers.
Nintendo appears unsympathetic to the resale market issue, as direct sales generate more revenue. Potential buyers are advised to exercise caution when considering used Switch 2 consoles, as online function restrictions may render devices partially unusable.