The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office has seized several high-profile websites accused of distributing pirated video games, cutting off access to platforms that leaked unreleased titles to millions of users. The seizure was part of a coordinated international effort with the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service, FIOD.
The affected websites include nsw2u.com, nswdl.com, ps4pkg.com, ps4pkg.net, mgnetu.com, game-2u.com, and bigngame.com. All of these sites are now offline. Anyone attempting to visit them is met with a seizure notice from federal authorities stating that the domain has been taken by the FBI per a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
According to a press release, the websites operated for more than four years and regularly leaked pirated copies of major video games days or even weeks before their official launch. From February 28 to May 28 alone, investigators recorded over 3.2 million downloads through one of the sites’ most-used services. The estimated financial damage caused by this activity stands at roughly $170 million.
Federal officials say the operation not only involved the seizure of the websites but also the complete dismantling of the supporting infrastructure behind them. These actions are intended to prevent future access to the pirated content and shut down the distribution pipeline.
The timing of this action comes as game developers and publishers continue to raise alarms about the rising impact of leaks and piracy on the industry. Nintendo, one of the most frequently targeted companies, has taken aggressive steps to combat illegal downloads. In recent months, Nintendo has pursued lawsuits against emulator creators and introduced hardware-level protections on its upcoming Switch 2 console.
Related: Alleged Leaked Images Reveal Potential Design and Specs for Nintendo Switch 2
The takedown of nsw2u.com, in particular, is significant. The site was added to the European Union’s piracy watchlist in May and was already blocked in multiple countries before this seizure. It had become notorious for hosting cracked versions of Nintendo Switch games that would appear online before the games were available at retail.
The FBI stated that piracy harms not only major corporations but also the developers, designers, and artists who spend years creating these titles. The agency says its goal is to protect intellectual property and support the long-term health of the video game industry.
While the domains have now been seized, investigations into the individuals behind these sites are still ongoing. Federal charges may be filed once authorities complete their review. For now, a major source of pirated games has been taken offline, disrupting illegal downloads worldwide.
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