Banned for piracy: Nintendo begins blocking Switch 2 consoles

Dmytro Kazantsev - 18 June, 09:00 PM

Some owners of the new Switch 2 console have encountered error code 2134-4508, which results in their consoles being banned from accessing Nintendo's online services.

According to The Verge, this ban is aimed at consoles that used the Mig cartridge, as it allows games to be pirated using a microSD card.

It states that to run games on the Mig, you need to download them from other users who have already copied the files from the cartridges, or copy the games yourself using a program like MiG Dumper. Then you need to download them to a microSD card. Regardless of whether you use it to play pirated games or to play copies of games you own, Nintendo's position on this issue is broad: the company considers both cases to be violations of its user agreements.

The makers of the Mig cartridge have decided to distance themselves from what most buyers are likely to do with it. That is, play pirated games. The product page states that it "serves as a backup and development device, supporting games exclusively using personal game backups. To maintain the Mig Flash warranty when playing online, it is important to use self-created backups with an authentic certificate and ID."

Nintendo Switch 2 screen shows extraordinary durability during crash test

It is also reported that Nintendo is blocking the consoles of violators, but not immediately. A user under the nickname Scattered Brain posted a video on YouTube about the blocking on the Switch 2, in which he tried to find a way to bypass the ban.

Attempting to visit the online store proved impossible, as was unlinking an account from the console, as both actions require an internet connection. Users were able to unlink virtual game cards from the Switch 2 on the Nintendo Account Management website and download them to the Switch OLED, suggesting that the ban is hardware-specific, not account-specific.

A factory reset disabled their Switch 2 console, as it no longer allowed them to log in to any Nintendo account. The company reserves the right to do this in accordance with its updated user agreement for accounts and privacy policy.

The publication notes that this ban should come as no surprise to anyone, as Nintendo has a long history of aggressively prosecuting those who pirate its games, as well as those who create emulators that can run pirated copies of games. Considering that the Switch 2 is the fastest-selling console of all time, Nintendo is spending all its energy to ensure that players play by its rules.

Recall, Nintendo recently announced that the Nintendo Switch 2 portable console has sold over 3.5 million units worldwide in just four days after its release on June 5, 2025.