Reddit Moderator Ordered to Pay Nintendo $4.5 Million in Switch Piracy Lawsuit

A Washington federal judge has ordered Reddit moderator James Williams to pay Nintendo $4.5 million in damages for his role in distributing pirated Nintendo Switch games. The ruling, issued on Wednesday, also mandates that Williams shut down online stores where he allegedly housed and distributed libraries of pirated titles.

Nintendo filed the lawsuit against Williams, also known online as "archbox," in 2024. The gaming giant accused Williams of becoming a "leading moderator" of the r/SwitchPirates community. According to the complaint, he solicited "donations" of Nintendo eShop gift cards and copies of Switch games for the purpose of copying and distributing them.

The judgment was entered as a "default judgment" after Williams failed to appear or respond to the court proceedings. Nintendo has pursued numerous legal actions in recent years to combat piracy affecting its console games, targeting both individual distributors and larger networks.

This case underscores Nintendo's ongoing commitment to protecting its intellectual property rights. The significant financial penalty and the order to cease operations serve as a strong deterrent against game piracy within the community and the broader gaming industry.