Nintendo has made a bold move to fend off the relentless tide of piracy and emulation by updating its Nintendo Account Agreement with a dire warning for users.

If you own a Nintendo account, you likely received an email detailing these changes. As spotted by Stephen Totilo from Game File, the language in the Licence for Digital Products section has been significantly revised.

The agreement for UK accounts now explicitly states that digital products are "licensed only for personal and non-commercial use". Engaging in any form of unauthorized use could mean your digital products might become permanently unusable!

In the US, the wording is slightly different but equally alarming: if you don’t comply with the restrictions, Nintendo reserves the right to render your account services and device unusable—either partially or entirely.

Comparing the old policy from April 2021 to the latest update illustrates how serious Nintendo is about protecting its intellectual property. The former guidelines merely highlighted the prohibitions against actions like leasing or reverse engineering, while the updated terms explicitly mention the potential bricking of devices.

Both the UK and US updates make it clear that without Nintendo's consent, any unauthorized activity—like copying or modifying digital products—could have severe consequences.

In addition, the Nintendo Account Privacy Policy is evolving, especially with the imminent release of the Switch 2. Nintendo will now have the ability to record video and voice chats stored on your console for a certain period, but only with your consent. This is intended to ensure a safe gaming environment by monitoring any inappropriate behavior.

This change coincides with the upcoming Game Chat feature on the Switch 2, offering players a chance to video chat during gameplay. The potential for misuse, however, has prompted Nintendo to keep a close eye on conversations.

Interestingly, this news comes on the heels of Nintendo's legal success against French file-sharing company Dstorage, which the gaming giant hailed as a significant victory for the industry at large. This series of updates signals that Nintendo is not only tightening its grip on unauthorized use but is also aiming for a more controlled and secure gaming environment.