This has happened with the DS, 3DS, and now, seemingly, the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. For years, Nintendo games have been major piracy targets due to rising costs, with Nintendo actively combating this by going after creators of emulators and ROMs to either obtain games illegally or simply preserve them.
As discovered by the mods of r/gameverifying, cartridges for both the original Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 can now be recased, enabling the creation of counterfeit cartridges that could be passed off as authentic copies.
The reproduction casings are reportedly offered in two versions: the “chip” and the “PCB.” The “chip” version consists mainly of the core component with copper contacts on its back, while the “PCB” version includes the entire full-sized printed circuit board. Most importantly, these casings are injection-molded rather than made using 3D printing methods, which have been around for a while.
Here are the legitimate rear casings for the Switch and Switch 2 chip variants:
Reproduction casings, internal view: chip variant on the left, PCB variant on the right:
Repro chip casing external on outer, legitimate PCB cart on inner:
Fortunately, there are several ways to tell fakes apart from originals, including differences in logos, identifiers, thickness, and, yes, the fact that originals have a bitter taste. The details on whether these reproductions are actually circulating are still unclear, so take this information with a grain of salt.
Learn more in the original Reddit post and explore Game Verifying’s complete guide on valid verification methods.
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