Nintendo is cracking down heavily on bans for Nintendo Switch 2 users. The first wave, which made many consoles unusable by disconnecting them from its online services, was driven by users employing flash cartridges like MiG, typically used for piracy. However, one user reported being banned for choosing a slightly offensive nickname.
Nintendo’s support explained that these bans are permanent and irreversible. Affected users cannot access the eShop, update their system, nor download or use Game-Key cartridges, effectively making the Switch 2 a console that can only be used offline in very limited ways.
Nintendo’s Strict Approach
Be careful with Switch 2 usernames.
byu/Funaoe24 inswitch2
Nintendo recently updated its terms of service, reserving the right to make services, games, and even consoles inaccessible in the event of violations. It was initially thought that these tools would only be used in extreme cases, but Nintendo has already demonstrated that it will not tolerate any violations.
While most bans are related to piracy and the use of unauthorized hardware (such as the previously mentioned MiG cartridges), a Reddit user, u/Funaoe24, reported on the subreddit r/switch2 that their console was banned after a family member changed the profile name to “Twink Link”, which was deemed inappropriate. The term “twink” is commonly used in the LGBTQ+ community to describe a young gay man, typically slim, hairless, with delicate features and a “boyish” look. After the ban, the user stated that they were blocked from all Nintendo services.
The Only Solution
Nintendo support refused to reactivate the account, and the only solution for the user was to return the console to the store from where it was purchased, in order to retrieve the data via cloud storage.
Nintendo of America’s guidelines prohibit the use of usernames considered obscene, illegal, or inappropriate, and provide for the removal of content, suspension of services, or even a permanent ban, as in this case.
