Japanese modder handed suspended prison sentence for modding Nintendo Switch consoles

A Japanese modder has been sentenced to two years in prison.

As reported by NTC (thanks, Automaton), a 58-year-old man has been found guilty of modifying and selling Nintendo Switch consoles.

He was allegedly arrested for “soldering modified parts” within the Switch system, enabling modded consoles to run pirated games.

In a hearing earlier today, April 14, the man was convicted of infringing Nintendo’s trademark and sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years. He has also been fined around $3500.

According to Automaton, the prison sentence sets a new legal precedent in Japan.

In related Switch news, according to internal assessments by a “major Apple and Nintendo supplier”, game consoles in the US will still be subjected to the 145% tariff on goods imported from China.