Is anyone else mad about the Switch 2's TOS and the game carts with no game data on them?

[KenaiPhoenix]

The TOS has always been terrible, so I honestly dont know how bad it actually is with today's Switch TOS.

But the digital cartridge where the last drop for me. Not only incredible expensive but also just a shallow version of the physical version. Prices can be lowered, but the download crap cannot be fixed, it was by design and companies will just push for this because it is cheaper.

I pass.

 

[starseeker300]

Apparently in the Switch 2's terms of service you cannot mod the switch 2 in any way, not even to replace broken or faulty parts because if you do Nintendo can remotely brick your console. You don't actually own the Switch 2 you just own the license. Oh, and the game carts with no game data on them, just a download key, so you don't actually own you games either. You know what I say? If purchase isn't ownership then piracy isn't stealing.

Its the reason i not getting a switch 2

 

[Questless Knight]

Mad ? No not at all have not cared of given a shit about nintendo sense the Snes era. The N64 proved to me what a shit company they are and how they are even still alive is a fracking mircale. Well goes to show dumb their fans are.

Honestly I kind of understand Nintendo now. They know how dumb their fans are so they charge what ever they wish they know their fans will eat that shit up like they are a bunch of addicts.

 

[popckorn]

Cat and Mouse
Like Sisyphus' Stone.

 

[Fray Guillermo]

I predict it'll have strong sales at first but then things will taper off, it might even flop. This might be the Wii U all over again.

I really hope it ends up flopping. Nintendo (and other companies too) really need to be humbled down

 

[thanonyx thanonyx]

So, who else ISN'T getting a Switch 2 today until they reverse their anti-consumer policies?

 

[NobodyHere]

Apparently in the Switch 2's terms of service you cannot mod the switch 2 in any way, not even to replace broken or faulty parts because if you do Nintendo can remotely brick your console. You don't actually own the Switch 2 you just own the license. Oh, and the game carts with no game data on them, just a download key, so you don't actually own you games either. You know what I say? If purchase isn't ownership then piracy isn't stealing.

First time hearing about this and what the fuck!

No way I’m buying that then, no matter what.

This sounds like it’s just asking for people to pirate out of malice

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

That's exactly why the (likely) failure of the Stop Killing Games campaign bothers me so much.

Gamers seem to agree that we are getting sodomized with a drill with every new generation, yet very few care to actually do something about it. The fact that most of our brothers and sisters in gaming can't even be bothered to sign an online petition signals to companies that we are PERFECT for abusing more and more.

 

[YULEcannon]

The download code thing is just another side effect of all modern games going digital. Makes no sense to even have physical releases if you won't produce a physical product with game data inside it. I'd feel ripped off if I bought what is basically just plastic with a neat label on it, when I thought I had a legit video game cart.

This feels like what happened when Nintendo tried to embrace online gaming. They didn't really do it right at first, and it just seemed like their hearts weren't in it. I loved getting to play PSO Episode 1 & 2 on Gamecube(the reason I wanted a GC, really), but I was expecting a re-release of Double Dash with online modes.

Locking down the Switch 2, in my opinion, is kinda like those companies who tried to sell everyone on games as a service. I prefer games as a thing I can go back to at a later date, without having to worry about Nintendo disabling things as a scheme to make me upgrade all the time.

 

[Strategist's icon Strategist Strategist]

I think the download code is more of a side effect of the game data not fitting in those small cartridges that they sell. The latest games hardly fit in BlueRay disks and require downloads to finish, expecting them to fit in a micro cartridge is unrealistic.

 

[thanonyx thanonyx]

First time hearing about this and what the fuck!

No way I’m buying that then, no matter what.

This sounds like it’s just asking for people to pirate out of malice

I encourage this.

 

[UntoldLegend13]

And... it's already hacked.
OOPS, Better luck next time Nintendo

 

[popckorn]

No way, lol
For reals tho?
LEL

 

[ThatOneLum]

Honestly, I'm not upset because I was already planning on holding off indefinitely with any of these next-gen systems.

As outraged as some folks are, I don't see it making a huge difference. People are outraged each and every time a console launches about one thing or another, but in most cases, they forget about them when some piece of software they're super interested in is launched.

At the end of the day, people are gonna do what they're gonna do. I'd preach caution when it comes to buying into this sort of shit too quickly. There's a reason they try to get you as excited as possible around the launch: to get you to think less about whether you actually want this damn thing.

 

[Leo-Dash]

And... it's already hacked.
OOPS, Better luck next time Nintendo

Nintendo works fast, but Modders & Hackers work faster

https://bsky.app/profile/retr0.id%2Fpost%2F3lquqdmcomc2e

 

[Hourai]

I'm impressed it happened so fast. Wonder how they accomplished it.
...wonder if it's built off the same hardware as the Switch 1.

Either way, I'm more upset that people are buying it like nothing's wrong. But I expected that, so I'm also disappointed in myself for expecting better of people.

 

[Dannzy]

Nintendo works fast, but Modders & Hackers work faster

This hack has no access to the underlying system, simply the userland where the UI usually is and it definitely won't be useful to play any games or install homebrew. We're still waiting on a firmware hack if that's what you want to do and there's lots of work to get to do before that point, don't get your hopes up too early.

I'd like to add that the digital key game carts are a little better than download codes. I'm not defending them, I still believe they're nothing more than an encouragement to publishers to cheapen out, but not all games are digital carts and they will unlock the game on any Switch and any account you put them in so they're at the very least still useful for trading or re-selling, with the lack of such features being a huge drawback to download codes. Yet, some publishers are still putting out cases with just download codes so overall the whole thing is a mess, but it depends on the game and far as I know Nintendo is making sure that all their first party titles come with complete carts that have full required firmware updates and game data.

 

[Isegrim]

I've not been happy about it since actual game collection ended after the PS2 when games got updated and therefore not being able to have the full game intact in whatever physical media the game resided on. Those game carts are just the end result of that.

Except for that completely translated port of Valis 4 via the 2nd Valis collection, there still isn't anything I really want on Switch 1 or 2.

The only thing that really burns me is the precedent Nintendo is setting and how it will negatively affect other game companies.

 

[thanonyx thanonyx]

It just gets better and better. Now it turns out that if you don't turn on the console or charge it for six months the battery will just stop working altogether. Now that's shitting the bed.

 

[Leon]

I lost all respect for nintendo all the way back with the wii, i knew it was only a matter of time before they went full EA so this doesn't surprise me.

And... it's already hacked.
OOPS, Better luck next time Nintendo

Worst part is i hear it was a exploit that was on the original switch too.

 

[Adrastia]

Its the reason i not getting a switch 2

It needs a day one update so it must go online at least once. I think that was put in place for more than just people trying to play it and leak info before June 5th. They wanted to know whether or not you tampered with the console if you got it early. Because they know damn well someone will.

I feel like if you buy a piece of hardware and aren't using it to play online then you should be able to modify it any way you want. Nintendo's selling you a $449 license. If you are familiar with the whole "right to repair" movement, this is unfortunately all too common. Even if you know what you are doing companies want your money to repair your device. They don't like that the guy at the bodega down the street can repair your iPhone better than Apple can for a cheaper price. Because Apple just wants to sell you a new iPhone. Nintendo wants to go "Oopsie! You voided your warranty by scratching that screw. You need a new Switch 2. That will be $449+regional taxes and delivery fees. Have a nice day!"

Remember that guy who was falsely accused of voiding a warranty for a handheld gaming device because there was a tiny, almost invisible scratch on it? I can see Nintendo pulling that too.

Nintendo works fast, but Modders & Hackers work faster

https://bsky.app/profile/retr0.id%2Fpost%2F3lquqdmcomc2e

No practical purpose. Yet.

 

[marky]

Nintendo works fast, but Modders & Hackers work faster

https://bsky.app/profile/retr0.id%2Fpost%2F3lquqdmcomc2e

They may succeed in hacking the system, but getting Switch 2 games to run may be a problem. Nintendo had already teamed up with Denuvo a few years ago to address game security on the first Switch, but it is likely that we will only see Denuvo on Switch 2.

On Switch 2 TOS, only Americans can be angry. They should thank their congressmen, senators and presidents for making such practices possible in their law.

Meanwhile, living in the EU, I can rest calmly as many of these controversial practices are against EU law.

 

[Leon]

They may succeed in hacking the system, but getting Switch 2 games to run may be a problem. Nintendo had already teamed up with Denuvo a few years ago to address game security on the first Switch, but it is likely that we will only see Denuvo on Switch 2.

On Switch 2 TOS, only Americans can be angry. They should thank their congressmen, senators and presidents for making such practices possible in their law.

Meanwhile, living in the EU, I can rest calmly as many of these controversial practices are against EU law.

Denuvo isn't cracked often not because of it's difficulty (hackers love challenges) but because of how boring it is to crack, if denuvo was behind the switch 2's security it will likely be cracked within the year.

 

[marky]

Denuvo isn't cracked often not because of it's difficulty (hackers love challenges) but because of how boring it is to crack, if denuvo was behind the switch 2's security it will likely be cracked within the year.

LOL. And hackers who don't want to crack Denuvo on PC because, as you claim ‘it's boring’ will crack Denuvo for every game protected with it on Switch 2? ( Because hacking console system security won't do anything for Denuvo-protected games)

As you can see here only 25 Denuvo protected games was cracked or bypassed from 2021 to 2025.

https://old.reddit.com/r/CrackWatch/comments/p9ak4n/crack_watch_games/

 

[Segadude113]

Steam Deck is digital only but at least you own your games. You can also run any game you want on it, even use emulators. Say what you will about Valve right now, at least it doesn't require a paid service to use.