Gary Bowser, the hacker who allowed many users to download Nintendo Switch games for free, has been found guilty and sentenced to 30 months in prison. He has already agreed to pay a fine of 4 million euros. It is estimated that his activity caused the Japanese firm to lose 57 million euros.
It’s the end of the Gary Bowser case. In 2020, the 52-year-old hacker at the head of the Team Xecuter group was arrested along with his two acolytes. For several years, the latter marketed equipment making it possible to download free switch games, but also Playstation Classic and Xbox. As always, Nintendo does not go with the back of the spoon: the firm claims 2500 dollars in damages per Switch pirated. This Tuesday, February 8, the pirate was found guilty and sentenced to 30 months in jail.
It is therefore a lighter sentence than that requested by the Defense, namely 5 years in prison and a fine of 4 million euros. Gary Bowser agreed to pay the latter. According to prosecutors, the hacker was the “main leader” of Team Xecuter, arguing that the latter “is responsible for the theft of millions of dollars in profits”. The fortune in question is estimated at 65 million dollars, or 57 million euros. Gary Bowser was in charge of site maintenance and customer service.
3 years in prison and 4 million euros fine for hacking Switch games
The same day, Nintendo thanked the authorities to get “Clamped down on illegal activities on a global scale that are causing serious harm to Nintendo and the video game industry”. For their part, Gary Bowser’s lawyers have declared that the latter is now doing “in the face of adversity” charges against him. They assure that he only touched “smallest profit” of the activity of Team Xecuter.
Related: Nintendo Blackmailed A Hacker Ready To Reveal The 3DS Early
In a press release, they also claim that we have benefited from his generosity. They further accuse Max Louarn, a French member of the pirate collective, of having “used Mr. Bowser to be the public face of the company”. Gary Bowser has yet to make an official statement.
Source: New York Times
