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New Delhi: Nintendo has taken another big step in its fight against piracy. The Japanese gaming company has filed a lawsuit against James “Archbox” Williams, who it claims acted as a community leader for Nintendo Switch piracy on Reddit. According to court filings (pdf), Nintendo is seeking $4.5 million in damages, arguing that Williams promoted, supported, and distributed tools that let users illegally download games.
The lawsuit comes at a time when the Switch continues to be one of the most pirated consoles in recent memory. With popular franchises like Pokémon and The Legend of Zelda regularly leaking online before release, Nintendo has been increasingly aggressive in tracking down individuals it sees as ringleaders in piracy communities.
On Reddit, there is a large community dedicated to Switch piracy with more than 238,000 subscribers and thousands of users active at any given moment. While moderators often say that fans should support developers, the space has long been a hub where piracy resources can be found. According to Nintendo’s filing, Williams was not just a casual participant.
The company alleges that he sent “thousands of messages” on Reddit directing people to piracy websites and even offered technical support to users who struggled to mod their consoles. In some cases, he reportedly asked for “donations” in the form of Nintendo eShop gift cards. Nintendo claims Williams created and operated piracy websites that offered access to an “extensive” library of Switch games.
Nintendo says the $4.5 million figure is not based on a direct calculation of losses. Instead, it is modeled on similar cases, like when Bungie won millions in damages from cheat makers. “Here, the amount of money sufficient to remedy NOA’s injury would be extremely difficult to quantify; but it is indisputable that such amount would be large,” the filing states.
The company also noted that it could have asked for more. “Nintendo has elected not to seek statutory damages for Williams’ DMCA anti-trafficking violations, even though such damages could be several million dollars,” the filing reads. It also said the company will not pursue attorneys’ fees, describing this choice as “a further gesture of reasonableness.”
This is not the first time Nintendo has tried to deal with Williams. The company says it sent him a cease-and-desist letter in March 2024, asking him to “shut down his pirate shops.” At first, Williams seemed cooperative, but progress stalled as he denied involvement and became “combative.” Nintendo’s filing says that he later deleted online posts that might have shown his role in piracy.
The Switch has long been a target for hackers. From flash cartridges to modding guides, piracy tools have circulated widely. Nintendo has responded with lawsuits against hardware sellers, website operators, and even fans caught livestreaming pirated games. In some cases, it has partnered with the FBI to pursue offenders, and in the past, the company has claimed $170 million in lost sales due to piracy.
The Williams case is the latest in a line of legal actions designed to send a strong signal. While the $4.5 million claim is significant, Nintendo describes it as conservative. For a company that has previously been awarded millions in court against pirate websites, the lawsuit shows that its long battle against piracy is far from over.
