The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office has seized several major online platforms involved in video game piracy. These websites offered pirated versions of popular video games, many of them made available before their official release dates. Alongside the seizures, the FBI also dismantled the websites’ supporting infrastructure, effectively shutting down the operations behind these platforms.
According to the agency, these sites have been active for over four years. During this period, they made available pirated copies of new and upcoming games. These unauthorized downloads gave users early access to titles that had not yet reached the market.
Between February 28 and May 28, 2025, records show that users downloaded pirated games 3.2 million times from the most commonly used service on these platforms. The estimated financial loss from these activities is around $170 million.
FBI Takes Over Domains Hosting Illegal Game Downloads
As part of the takedown, the FBI has obtained legal authorization to seize the domains of multiple websites. These include:
nsw2u.com
nswdl.com
game-2u.com
bigngame.com
ps4pkg.com
ps4pkg.net
mgnetu.com
These domains were used to host and share pirated video games. Visitors to any of these sites will now see a seizure notice, indicating that the U.S. federal authorities have taken control of the domains.
The FBI extended its thanks to international partners. “The FBI would like to thank the Dutch FIOD for their assistance in this investigation,” the agency stated.
Nsw2u Among the Most Popular
One of the most visited sites, nsw2u, has sparked strong reactions from the online gaming community. For years, gamers used the site to download pirated versions of games for hacked Nintendo Switch devices. In addition to Nintendo Switch titles, the platform also offered PC games.
The platform’s popularity was not unnoticed by global authorities. In May 2025, the European Union added nsw2u to its Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List. The EU said game publishers and industry stakeholders had reported the site for distributing unauthorized content.
“Operators of these domains are reported not to have reacted to requests by right holders to end the illegal activities,” EU officials stated in the report.
As a result of the mounting legal pressure, several European countries passed rules to block access to nsw2u and its related domains. These included the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and France.
In February 2025 alone, the site saw approximately 2.3 million global visits, underscoring the scale and reach of its operations.
Industry Pushback and Global Enforcement
The piracy crackdown has not gone unnoticed by industry leaders. In 2021, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), representing companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, and others, sent a formal letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The letter cited nsw2u as a platform that repeatedly ignored takedown notices and failed to cooperate with copyright enforcement.
Despite the ESA’s concerns, Nintendo and Sony , the makers of the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation consoles, respectively, did not provide public comments regarding their role in the current operation.
Law enforcement across the U.S. and Europe have increased their efforts in recent years to fight against online piracy. Over the past three years, several major actions have been launched to stop illegal distribution of digital content.
Growing Tensions Between Users and Authorities
While the authorities celebrate the success of this latest operation, not everyone is happy. Many users expressed frustration online, especially those who had relied on the sites for years to access games without paying.
Some members of the gaming community defended their actions by citing high game prices and limited access in certain regions. Others argued that piracy platforms gave players a chance to try games before deciding whether to buy them.
However, authorities continue to stress the economic harm caused by piracy. With an estimated loss of $170 million in just three months, game publishers face serious financial threats. Piracy can impact game development budgets, reduce profits, and limit future investments in new projects.
Conclusion
By disabling the websites and seizing their domains, the FBI has effectively ended access to some of the most used piracy platforms for video games. While some may try to recreate these websites or shift to new domains, law enforcement agencies are working faster and more efficiently than ever before.
For now, the FBI’s success in shutting down these websites sends a strong message: piracy is not without consequence, and illegal distribution of games will be met with serious legal actions.
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