Seven Piracy Giants Shut Down by FBI
ATLANTA / GLOBAL – In a dramatic crackdown on digital piracy, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has seized control of seven major video game piracy domains, delivering a powerful blow to illegal free game distribution networks that catered to millions of users worldwide. This isn’t just another take down, it’s one of the most significant actions against free game piracy in years, and it could reshape the underground gaming ecosystem.
7 Major Piracy Sites Taken Down
The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office executed a coordinated operation, obtaining legal authorization to seize the domains of these heavily trafficked piracy hubs:
- nsw2u.com
- nswdl.com
- game-2u.com
- bigngame.com
- ps4pkg.com
- mgnetu.com
- ps4pkg.net
These sites, infamous in piracy circles for offering free unauthorized downloads of Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC, and other games, now display a federal seizure banner notifying visitors that they’re under U.S. law enforcement control.
Many of these domains had been active for more than four years, hosting pirated copies of games – often before official release dates – and allowing users to download them without paying a dime.
$170M in Estimated Losses
From February 28 to May 28, 2025, there were 3.2 million illicit downloads from these sites.
The estimated impact on legitimate game sales and intellectual property is around $170 million a figure frequently cited by investigators (though debated among experts).
This massive scale shows just how entrenched and widespread game piracy had become and why authorities finally moved.
Legal Power Behind the Bust
The FBI’s seizure wasn’t unilateral. A U.S. District Court in Georgia issued warrants under federal law, granting the Bureau authority not only to take the domains but also to dismantle the infrastructure supporting these operations.
International partnerships played a critical role too. The FBI publicly acknowledged assistance from the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD), reflecting the global nature of digital piracy enforcement.
What’s the Real Impact?
For Users
Gamers who relied on these sites for free games downloadable ROMs or pirated copies playable on modded hardware or emulators are suddenly cut off. Many are already scrambling to find alternatives or lamenting the losses in online communities.
But this does not stop piracy outright historically, takedowns are met with mirror sites, proxy domains, or completely new platforms rising from the ashes. That’s been the pattern with past actions like the seizure of iSONEWS or Megaupload.
For the Industry
Game publishers and developers see this as a win. Piracy cuts into revenues and undermines hard-earned creative work. Authorities hope this crack-down will deter future domain operators and reinforce the legal risks of piracy, which can include fines, criminal charges, and civil liability for copyright infringement.
Legal penalties can be severe:
- Operators of piracy networks face federal charges including copyright infringement and distribution of stolen software.
- Penalties can range from heavy fines to years in prison under U.S. law.
- Even users could face legal notices or civil actions in some jurisdictions.
This isn’t about punishing gamers, It’s about enforcing the rule of law, protecting creators, and upholding the value of digital content in an era where online theft has become a multibillion-dollar industry.