Nintendo is cracking down on Switch piracy with new security measures that can “perfectly detect” whether a game has been installed illegally.
Redditor SciresM, who broke down the new anti-piracy measures, says that when you go online with the Switch, “Nintendo can detect whether or not the user connecting has data from a Nintendo-authorised gamecard for the correct title.” If your game is legitimate, your console retrieves a unique certification (or ticket) to allow you to play the title online.
If you’re caught with a pirated game cartridge, your game cartridge will be banned for online use and you could be potentially permanently banned from the Nintendo Network. Digital pirated games appear to automatically trigger a ban.
Source: IGN.com Nintendo Now Permanently Banning Switch Users With Illegal Games