Nintendo has secured a $4.5 million judgment against a man accused of operating online stores that distributed pirated Nintendo Switch games and helping thousands of users obtain unauthorized copies.
A US federal judge entered the default judgment against James C. Williams, known online as “Archbox,” after he failed to respond to Nintendo’s lawsuit. Williams had been associated with the r/SwitchPirates Reddit community and several online stores used to distribute unauthorized copies of Switch games.
US District Judge Lauren King awarded Nintendo the maximum statutory damages of $150,000 for each of 30 copyrighted games included in the case. The titles covered by the judgment include Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Pikmin 4.
Nintendo accused Williams of playing a central role in maintaining and promoting several online “Pirate Shops.” These services provided libraries of Nintendo Switch games that users could download without purchasing legitimate copies.
According to the court’s findings, Williams also encouraged other users to contribute pirated games and provided assistance to people interested in downloading and installing unauthorized copies.
The operation was not entirely free. Nintendo alleged that Williams solicited donations, including Nintendo eShop gift cards, and that contributors could receive benefits such as faster downloads and fewer restrictions when accessing the piracy services.
Nintendo filed the case in 2024 after identifying Williams as the person behind the Archbox account. The company said it had previously contacted him during its investigation and that he initially appeared willing to cooperate before later denying involvement.
Williams ultimately did not defend himself in court. His failure to respond allowed Nintendo to request a default judgment rather than proceed through a conventional trial where both sides would present their arguments.
The financial award is only part of the ruling. Williams is permanently prohibited from distributing Nintendo’s copyrighted games and from offering software or devices designed to bypass the Switch’s technological protections.
He must also disable access to the piracy stores under his control and close social media accounts used to promote or distribute unauthorized Nintendo content.
The judgment adds to Nintendo’s continuing legal campaign against businesses and individuals involved in Switch piracy. The company has pursued operators of piracy services, modding businesses and developers of technology capable of bypassing protections built into its consoles.
Nintendo recently secured another court victory in the Netherlands involving Mig flash cartridges, which can be used to load copied Switch games.
For Williams, the latest ruling ends the case without a contested trial but leaves him facing both the $4.5 million damages award and a permanent injunction restricting future involvement in Nintendo piracy operations.