Piracy is considered a problem in the video game industry, like with most commercial media. While there have been conflicting reports on how much piracy affects video game sales, the fact remains that there are torrents and downloads available for many games, which may harm smaller, independent developers at the very least. In a small win for the game development industry, the FBI have apprehended two members of one of the most notorious video game piracy groups, known as Team Xecuter.
Team Xecuter is known for creating exploits that allow the loading of pirated software onto platforms like the Nintendo Switch with devices like the SX line of USBs. In May of this year, Nintendo filed a lawsuit and injunction against sites that sold Team Xecuter’s hardware. However, that did not completely stopped the group, and it continued to make and sell products based on Nintendo property.
In the same week where Nintendo won the aforementioned lawsuit and received £2 million in damages, it was announced that two prominent members of Team Xecuter were arrested by the FBI last month. French national Max Louarn, 48, and Canadian national Gary Bowser, 51, are being charged with 11 felony counts each, including:
“Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to circumvent technological measures and to traffic in circumvention devices, trafficking in circumvention devices, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.”
According to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Louarn and Bowser were both leaders of Team Xecuter, which “cloaked its illegal activity with a purported desire to support gaming enthusiasts who wanted to design their own videogames for noncommercial use.” The DOJ says Team Xecuter’s main goal was to make a profit off of selling hardware that enabled piracy on game consoles such the Nintendo Switch.
Former Nintendo of America President and International Video Game Hall of Fame Inductee Reggie Fils-Aime commented on the story via Twitter. He made a joking remark to current President Doug Bowser, who bears no relation to Gary Bowser — now under investigation by both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
If convicted, the two could face 20 years or more for the charges stacked against them, which may put a dent in Team Xecuter’s operations going forward. However, there are others selling materials that aid in the pirating of games beyond this particular group. This January, Nintendo won a lawsuit against a California resident who sold pre-modded Nintendo Switches for the purpose of playing pirated games.
Source: The United States Department of Justice
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