Gary Bowser, Notorious Switch Hacker, Released from Prison Early

Gary Bowser, the ringleader of the infamous piracy group Team Xecuter, has been granted an early release from federal prison due to good behavior. According to a report by TorrentFreak, Bowser was initially sentenced to 40 months for his role in hacking Nintendo Switch consoles, but has now been released prematurely. As part of his sentence, Bowser was also ordered to pay substantial damages to Nintendo, totaling $14.5 million. In a recent interview with YouTuber Nick "NickMoses05" Moses, Bowser disclosed that he has so far paid $175 in restitution. He further explained that the agreement stipulates Nintendo can claim a maximum of 25 to 30 percent of his gross monthly income, with a six-month grace period before payments commence. Bowser's arrest in October 2020, alongside other high-ranking members of Team Xecuter, was in connection with the group's modification of Switch hardware. The following year, Bowser pleaded guilty and agreed to a $10 million fine. At the time of his sentencing, U.S. attorney Nick Brown estimated that Team Xecuter's activities had resulted in losses exceeding $65 million for game companies.