this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2026
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Piracy: ꜱᴀɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴇᴀꜱ

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Is game console (hardware) piracy a thing? (lemmy.zip)
submitted 2 days ago by LtDan@lemmy.zip to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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The correct term is: bootleg, in this case. As in for example: the real Switch 2 is expensive, so bootleg imitations (knock offs) exist sold for cheap. You can encounter that in a literal market where they are selling fake iPhones, watches, handbags & etc.

You could 3D print a game console but it’ll be obvious as it won’t work without internal components (GPU / CPU), you need to obtain a schematic of its design in order to really create a copy. An iPhone is made from aluminum for example.

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 2 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

Schematics are one thing, being able to market and sell them another. The older Nintendo consoles are basically public domain now, or whatever the patent equivalent is. Anyone can make their own modern NES hardware if they have the ability and desire.

But you wouldn't be able to do so with the Switch 1 or 2. The Wii. The Wii U. GameCube, maybe? I know for sure the NES and SNES are open. I know for sure the current gen isn't. Not sure about in between tho.

If you reverse engineered the Switch 2 (as the schematics are not publicly available afaik) and designed your own version of it, that would be a form of "piracy" if you also tried to sell it. Not sure the legality of simply making such a thing that only you, the creator, would use tho. I am curious about that.