Piracy
Ongoing coverage on Piracy.
Latest coverage
Nintendo scores legal win against Switch pirates in Europe
Nintendo has secured a legal victory in Europe against distributors of the MIG Switch, a device used for pirating Nintendo Switch games. The District Court of The Hague ruled that sales of the MIG Switch are unlawful, ordering distributors to cease operations. Nintendo advises consumers to avoid unauthorized hardware and software to protect their gaming experience.
Nintendo picks up major legal victory against sale of Switch piracy devices
Nintendo has secured a legal victory against the sale of Switch piracy devices in Europe, with The District Court of The Hague ruling it unlawful to sell products like the MIG Switch. This ruling aims to protect Nintendo's intellectual property and support legitimate game developers by preventing the use of unauthorized game copies.
Nintendo continues fight against piracy wiping out 400+ Switch emulator repos in single day
Nintendo has taken down over 400 Nintendo Switch emulator repositories, including Suyu, Yuzu forks, and Skyline, as part of its ongoing efforts against piracy. The company filed multiple DMCA notices on GitHub to achieve these takedowns.
Malware Disguised as Leaked GTA 6 Copies Are Popping Up on Piracy Sites
Malware disguised as leaked copies of Grand Theft Auto 6 is appearing on piracy websites. Despite online claims, there is no downloadable or playable build of the game currently available on these sites.
‘Marvel Tokon’ Crack Arrives in 11 Days — and the Pirated Build Reportedly Runs Smoother
A DRM-free build of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls has reportedly been cracked and released just 11 days after launch, with many users claiming the pirated version runs significantly smoother than the official PC release. Players have reported performance issues, crashes, and connectivity problems on the legitimate PC version, leading to speculation that the Digital Rights Management software is to blame. The cracked build allegedly bypasses shader preloading and offers a more stable frame rate, even on systems that exceed the recommended specifications.
The Quake shareware CD-ROM contained encrypted copies of every id Software game—and yes, it was cracked 39 days…
The shareware CD-ROM for id Software's Quake included encrypted copies of the company's entire game catalog, intended to be unlocked via phone purchase. However, just 39 days after its release, a tool called Quakecrk.zip emerged, allowing users to generate unlock codes for all included games, effectively enabling widespread piracy of id Software's back catalog.
"Just pirate it": Roguelike dev would rather you download its games illegally than buy from Steam code…
Indie developer Dicehit Games, creator of the roguelike Runeveil, has publicly stated they would rather players pirate their games than purchase them through unofficial key reseller websites. The studio explained that these sites often sell game keys that were initially provided for free to content creators, thus abusing developer goodwill and failing to generate revenue or content coverage.
Saturday Metaverse
The article discusses the implications of Grand Theft Auto 6's reported deal with Netflix, questioning whether an advertisement can be considered pirated. It also touches on sensitive information in 'no reply' emails.
GTA 6's Netflix deal forces us to ask: can you pirate an advertisement?
The article discusses the controversial decision for Grand Theft Auto 6's extended look trailer to debut exclusively on Netflix for six hours on August 27th. It questions the necessity of this deal, suggesting it's a monetization tactic that disrespects fans and potentially harms Take-Two's reputation, despite the game's anticipated success.
Quoteworthy
John Romero shared an anecdote about id Software selling empty Doom boxes to Taiwanese pirates to circumvent distribution issues, stating it was a form of distribution for them. Trent Reznor also commented on Doom's impact.
Doom creator id Software used Taiwanese pirates to help distribute the game, John Romero reveals
Co-founder of id Software, John Romero, revealed that the company collaborated with Taiwanese pirates to distribute the game Doom during the Shareware era. Instead of fighting piracy, id Software provided cheap copies to pirates to ensure widespread distribution in regions where they lacked a presence. This strategy helped establish the game's reach and was considered crucial for distribution.
John Romero says id Software once sold empty Doom boxes to Taiwanese pirates so fans there could have legit copies:…
John Romero revealed that id Software once sold empty boxes of Doom to Taiwanese pirates to legitimize their distribution of the shareware version. The company was content with this arrangement, viewing it as a way to get the game out to as many people as possible before the internet was widespread. id Software also opted not to implement copy protection, believing it was a losing battle.
Corsair Cove Released
Corsair Cove has been released for Windows PC and is available on the Epic Games Store, Steam, and the Windows Store. The game allows players to explore the oceans and engage in piracy.
The Odyssey leaks online in full as Universal responds with takedowns and warning to pirates
Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey" has been leaked online in full shortly after its theatrical release, with copies appearing on Twitter in both theater-recorded and 4K formats. Universal Pictures has responded by initiating takedown protocols and issuing a warning against piracy, stating they take copyright infringement seriously. The film has been a major box office success, grossing over $639 million globally.
Switch 2 modding scene makes new breakthrough, but Nintendo safe from piracy
A new userland exploit has been discovered for the Nintendo Switch 2, though it is not currently capable of enabling piracy. This exploit differs from the hardware vulnerabilities found in the original Nintendo Switch, which led to widespread piracy issues. Nintendo remains safe from piracy concerns on the new console for now.
Forget Black Flag Resynced, the best pirate game of 2026 might be a logistics-heavy city builder
Corsair Cove, a new pirate-themed game from Limbic Entertainment, redefines the genre by focusing on logistics and city-building rather than traditional swashbuckling. Players will manage resources, construct a colony on cliff faces, and utilize novel transportation methods like ziplines and elevators to create an efficient pirate haven. Despite its complex systems, the game aims to be accessible and visually vibrant, blending management gameplay with pirate fantasy elements.
Why Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is Better Than the Original in Almost Every Conceivable Way
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is presented as a superior remake of the original, enhancing visuals, parkour fluidity, and character animations to make the world feel more alive. Gameplay improvements include more dynamic missions, refined combat relying on parrying and environmental interactions, and expanded naval combat. While the removal of modern-day Animus sections and multiplayer is noted, the remake is praised for its comprehensive upgrades and is considered a strong starting point for newcomers and a worthy experience for fans.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced opens to 2 million sales on launch day
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has achieved strong launch day sales, selling two million copies and becoming the top-ranked game on Twitch. The game also set a new record for the Assassin's Creed franchise on Steam with nearly 100,000 concurrent players. Despite praise for its updated graphics and open world, some players have expressed concerns about cosmetic microtransactions in the single-player experience.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Launches Worldwide on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC | Invision Game
Ubisoft has launched Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the 2013 title, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Developed by Ubisoft Singapore, the game features rebuilt visuals, enhanced combat, stealth, parkour, and naval gameplay, along with new narrative content. It is also Steam Deck Verified and offers both Standard and Deluxe editions, with a Collector's Edition available.
Lenovo just nuked its retro handheld that sellers packed with illegal ROMs, but unbranded versions are still haunting…
Lenovo has officially discontinued its controversial G02 retro handheld, which was found to be pre-loaded with potentially illegal ROMs by third-party sellers. While Lenovo claims the device was not intended for sale outside China and denies sanctioning such sales, unbranded versions of the device are still appearing on marketplaces. This situation highlights the often unregulated nature of the retro handheld market.
