Switch Hacker Released From Prison, But Must Pay Nintendo Restitution for Life

According to VGC , hacker Gary Bowser was released from prison early from his three-year sentence. He was a prominent member of a hacking group that was convicted of creating and selling devices that allowed users to play illegal copies on the Switch and 3DS.

In February 2022, Bowser was sentenced to 40 months in prison for his role in a hacking group called Team-Xecuter, which began operating in 2013 and primarily created and sold cheat devices that allowed users to play pirated game ROMs on both Nintendo's Switch and 3DS consoles.

Tin tặc hack Switch được ra tù, nhưng phải bồi thường cho Nintendo suốt đời - Ảnh 1. — Nintendo Switch Hacker Released Early From Prison

In an interview on gaming blogger Nick Moses' podcast, Bowser said he was released from federal prison in late March and is currently at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, where he is being processed before returning to Canada.

Bowser will, however, have to serve the remainder of his sentence, in which he was ordered to pay $14.5 million in damages, including a $10 million priority payment to Nintendo.

In the interview, Bowser said he has so far paid back $175, which he earned from his work in prison. But when he is released, the hacker will have to start paying a portion of his monthly income to Nintendo.

"In the agreement with Nintendo, the maximum amount they can collect is 25% to 30% of their monthly income," Bowser said. To fully pay Nintendo under this agreement, Bowser would have to earn at least $40 million before taxes. Now that Bowser is 53 years old, he likely won't be able to pay off his debt and will have to compensate Nintendo for the rest of his life.

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