Nintendo Switch banned
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Nintendo bans Switch 2 consoles starting September 5, blocking online services. Owners who played only legitimate cartridges are affected, raising concerns about false bans.
Background
Starting September 5, 2026, reports of Switch 2 console bans increased on social media, with owners seeing error code 2124-4508 and losing access to Nintendo Switch Online and eShop. The bans affect users in Asia, Europe, and the US, though the exact reason is unclear. Some owners claim they only used legitimate cartridges, while Nintendo has previously banned consoles for using flash carts or pirated software.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2025Nintendo took similar action when MIG Flash makers updated firmware, enabling pirated Switch games on Switch 2.
- Sep 5, 2026Reports of Switch 2 console bans begin increasing on social media, with error code 2124-4508.
- Sep 6, 2026Switch Help subreddit and RedNote see numerous complaints; at least 150 RedNote posters report being blocked.
Who’s saying what
- Affected owners
- They claim they only played legitimate cartridges and are being unfairly banned.
- Nintendo
- Nintendo has historically enforced bans on consoles using flash carts or pirated software, but has not commented on this wave.
Still unverified
The exact reason for the latest bans is unclear; some reports suggest widespread bans in China, but scope is difficult to judge from social media.