
FBI Atlanta Seizes Major Video Game Piracy Websites | Federal Bureau of Investigation
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Macy Woodworth
Macy Woodworth joined WTVM in January of 2024. She was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California. She attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee and graduated in May of 2023.
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Macy Woodworth joined WTVM in January of 2024. She was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California and grew up with a love for meeting others, writing, and cheering on the Bay Area sports teams.
She attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee and graduated in May of 2023. There, she earned her degree in communication with minors in digital media and psychology. Throughout her time in Tennessee, Macy was a part of Lee’s student-run newspaper and broadcasting team, while also playing basketball for the university.
In her free time, Macy loves being active outdoors, spending time with friends/family, and watching the Golden State Warriors!
FBI Seizes Major Sites Sharing Unreleased and Pirated Video Games
The FBI and Department of Justice have seized and dismantled several notorious online marketplaces distributing pirated video games. The sites had gained popularity for leaking unreleased titles to millions of users worldwide. An estimated 3.2 million illegal downloads took place through one of the main services connected to these sites. The financial impact stands at roughly $170 million in losses to publishers and developers. The people behind these sites could face prosecution once investigators finish their work.
The targeted sites had gained popularity for leaking unreleased titles to millions of users worldwide. Visitors who try to reach these domains now see a federal notice stating “This website has been seized” and “This domain has been seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation” instead of download links.
The full list of seized websites includes the following:
Nswdl.com
Nsw2u.com
Ps4pkg.com
Ps4pkg.net
Mgnetu.com
Game-2u.com
Bigngame.com
According to the FBI’s press release, from late February through May, an estimated 3.2 million illegal downloads took place through just one of the main services connected to these sites. The financial impact stands at roughly $170 million in losses to publishers and developers.
Screenshot from the now-seized and popular Game-2u.com (Image credit: Hackread.com)
The agency further revealed that for more than four years, these networks distributed early copies of some of the most anticipated games, often days or weeks before their official launch.
The FBI’s move to seize the sites’ domains cuts off access to vast libraries of pirated content and removes infrastructure that supported further distribution. The operation involved support from the Dutch FIOD agency (Fiscal Information and Investigation Service).
Game studios have always complained that leaks hurt their sales, drain the hard work of developers and ruin the excitement they build before a big launch. The FBI says grabbing these early copies for free doesn’t just hit big companies but also affects the people who spend years making the games in the first place.
While the domains are now in government hands, the global fight against online piracy will continue. The people behind these sites could face prosecution once investigators finish their work. For now, some of the internet’s busiest sources for leaked games have gone down, cutting off millions of downloads in the process.
FBI Seizes Seven Pirate Gaming Sites in Crackdown on Nintendo Switch ROM Distribution
The FBI seized seven websites accused of distributing pirated Nintendo Switch games. Among the sites taken offline was NSW2U.com, a prominent source for illegal Switch game downloads. The affected websites accumulated over 3.2 million downloads between February 28 and May 28, according to the FBI.Nintendo has intensified its anti-piracy efforts in recent years, aggressively pursuing legal action against ROM-sharing platforms and individuals promoting emulation.
The FBI has seized a network of websites accused of distributing pirated Nintendo Switch games and other console software, shutting down a piracy infrastructure that officials say resulted in $170 million in losses. Among the sites taken offline was NSW2U.com, a prominent source for illegal Switch game downloads.
The enforcement action, led by the FBI’s Atlanta field office, targeted seven domains allegedly used to host and facilitate access to ROM files, many of which were leaked prior to official release dates. The seizure banners posted on the domains cite a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
“These domains hosted and facilitated access to the pirated video games,” the FBI stated. “Anyone visiting these sites will now view a seizure banner that notifies them the domain has been seized by federal authorities.”
The investigation involved international cooperation, including the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD), a Dutch agency specializing in financial crimes. The presence of the FIOD logo on the seizure notice indicates suspected ties between the site operators and entities in the Netherlands. NSW2U had already been blacklisted in the European Union before the FBI’s intervention.
The affected websites-nsw2u.com, nswdl.com, game-2u.com, bigngame.com, ps4pkg.com, ps4pkg.net, and mgnetu.com-accumulated over 3.2 million downloads between February 28 and May 28, according to the FBI.
Nintendo has intensified its anti-piracy efforts in recent years, aggressively pursuing legal action against ROM-sharing platforms and individuals promoting emulation. In 2023, the company filed a lawsuit against a streamer accused of showcasing pirated games. Earlier this year, emulator developer Yuzu paid $2.4 million to settle similar claims.
FBI in Georgia seizes ‘major video game piracy websites’
The FBI says it has seized several websites for pirated video games. The sites contained pirated copies of highly anticipated video games, the FBI says. From Feb. 28 to May 28 alone, there were 3.2 million downloads from the sites, it says. The seized sites include: nsw2u.com, nswdl.com and bigngame.com.
FBI Atlanta has also “dismantled the infrastructure” of the “online criminal marketplaces,” the field office said.
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“For more than four years, the websites contained pirated copies of highly anticipated video games days or weeks before their official release date,” FBI Atlanta said.
Anyone visiting the “major video game piracy websites” will now see the following notice saying the domain has been seized by federal authorities:
Anyone visiting websites for pirated video games recently seized by the FBI will instead see this notice. (FBI Atlanta)
From Feb. 28 to May 28 alone, records indicate there were 3.2 million downloads from the sites, “from the most used download service,” resulting in an estimated loss of $170 million, according to the agency.
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The FBI said the seized sites include: nsw2u.com, nswdl.com, game-2u.com, bigngame.com, ps4pkg.com, ps4pkg.net and mgnetu.com.
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FBI seizes websites in major piracy crackdown in Atlanta
The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office seized several high-traffic websites accused of distributing pirated video games. The seized domains allegedly hosted illegal copies of popular video games, often before their official release dates. From February 28 to May 28, 2025, one of the most-used download services on these sites recorded more than 3.2 million downloads, authorities said.
The Brief The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office seized several high-traffic websites accused of distributing pirated video games, causing an estimated $170 million in losses to the gaming industry. The seized domains allegedly hosted illegal copies of popular video games, often before their official release dates, and now display a federal seizure banner. The FBI dismantled the infrastructure supporting the illegal activity, with assistance from the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) in the international investigation.
The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office has seized several high-traffic websites accused of distributing pirated video games, resulting in an estimated $170 million in losses to the gaming industry, federal officials announced Thursday.
What we know:
The seized domains — including nsw2u.com, nswdl.com, game-2u.com, bigngame.com, ps4pkg.com, ps4pkg.net, and mgnetu.com — allegedly hosted and facilitated access to illegal copies of popular video games, often days or weeks before their official release dates.
Visitors to the seized sites are now met with a federal seizure banner indicating the domains are under the control of U.S. law enforcement.
What they’re saying:
“For more than four years, the websites contained pirated copies of highly anticipated video games,” the FBI said in a statement. From February 28 to May 28, 2025, one of the most-used download services on these sites recorded more than 3.2 million downloads, authorities said.
What’s next:
The FBI also dismantled the underlying infrastructure supporting the illegal activity and credited the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) for assisting in the international investigation.