With just a couple of days to go before the release of the hotly anticipated seventh generation of Pokémon handheld games, Sun and Moon, it seems that Nintendo is cracking down on players who are using pirated copies of the games to use online features before the games are officially released.
Multiple users of pirated copies of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon have been reporting receiving Error Code 002-0102, "This device's access to online services has been restricted by Nintendo," after using the online features of pirated copies of the 3DS titles. This not only keeps players from using the online access of other 3DS titles but restricts them from accessing features such as the eShop.
This follows after the massive data mining of the games earlier this month, which led to players gaining access to the full PokéDex and also individual Pokémon stats, items, and movesets.
Players who have used pirated copies and have found their online access restricted can contact Nintendo support and try to have their restriction overturned. Some players have allegedly found methods to get around the online restriction, but these methods likely won't last long as Nintendo becomes aware of them.
This isn't the first time Nintendo has tried to stem the flow of pirated copies. Those who played a pirated ROM copy of the fifth generation of Pokémon titles, Pokémon Black and Pokémon White, likely remember how the game detected you were using a pirated ROM and stopped your Pokémon from gaining any experience points, making the game (theoretically) impossible to beat.
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon will be releasing for the Nintendo 3DS on November 18th for Japan and North America, and on November 23rd for European countries.
Stay tuned to TechRaptor for further news and information on Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon and on the Pokémon franchise.
What are your thoughts on Nintendo removing online access for those with pirated copies? Is this a fair punishment? Let us know in the comment section below.
