Warning: Buying Used Switch Games on Facebook Could Land You a Ban

If you've recently forked out for a Switch 2, it might be a good idea to think twice before buying used game cartridges, particularly via unofficial channels like social media marketplaces.

Users on Reddit are reporting that they've been banned after attempting to patch used Switch 1 games they bought on Facebook Marketplace, Engadget reports. One user recently bought a collection of Switch 1 game cartridges on Facebook Marketplace. The day after attempting to patch the new purchases on his Switch 2, he logged in to find his online service was restricted and he was banned from Nintendo Switch Online.

However, things did eventually work out for the user. After getting in touch with Nintendo's support, showing them the Facebook Marketplace listing and providing pictures of the game cartridges, he was eventually able to get unbanned.

The user didn't provide much detail about the underlying issue which caused the ban, but we've already seen Nintendo clamp down hard on pirated copies of Switch game cartridges, which can then be resold by criminals online.

Would-be pirates can use the MIG Flash, a $65 Russian-manufactured cartridge, that can run unlicensed Switch games, which also added support to run Switch 2 games earlier this month. However, all Switch cartridges carry unique identifiers, and Nintendo has advanced systems in place that will flag if multiple consoles are using the same cartridge ID.

Earlier this month a swath of Switch 2 users took to social media to report their devices getting bricked after experimenting with the MIG Flash to make copies of their own games, which they purchased and paid for legitimately.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

It's obvious that Nintendo isn't messing around when it comes to cracking down on pirates, it's been very clear on its policies. The game giant updated its terms and conditions earlier this month, clearly stating that it reserved the right to "render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part," in the event of prohibited activity being detected. Though these terms only seem to apply to US users, not their European counterparts.