In a recent development, Gary Bowser, a man convicted for his role in the Nintendo hacking group Team Xecuter, has been released from prison after serving 40 months and being fined $14.5 million. Bowser, who claimed to have played only a minor role in the hacking ring, was indicted in 2020 alongside two others for their activities in the group that sold chips allowing users to play pirated games.
He was the only one convicted and sentenced in the US, while one was never arrested, and the other could not be extradited.
Continue reading to know more about Gary Bowser’s life, career, and the latest updates on the case.
Who is Gary Bowser? Know more about him
Gary Bowser was born and raised in Canada. He had a background in computer engineering and was well-known in the hacking community. Bowser was allegedly the leader of Team Xecuter, a hacking group that was formed in 2013.
The group gained notoriety for selling hacking devices that allowed users to bypass Nintendo’s security measures and play pirated games on the Switch console. Bowser was also said to have run a website that reviewed the group’s products, taking about $500 to $1000 per month from the operations.
Why was Gary Bowser in prison?
In 2021, Bowser was found guilty of 11 felonies related to his involvement in the Team Xecuter hacking ring and sentenced to 40 months in prison and a $14.5 million fine. He admitted to being part of a criminal enterprise that produced and sold illegal hacking devices, resulting in losses of at least $100 million to gaming companies.
Although Bowser claimed to have played a minor role as the group’s marketing and PR manager, the judge believed that he had contributed significantly to their illegal activities. The judge stated that Bowser’s sentence was intended to send a message and discourage other hackers from engaging in similar illegal activities.
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Latest updates on the case
Gary Bowser was released from prison in 2022 after serving almost two years of his sentence. However, he still owes Nintendo $10 million in damages, and the company has the legal right to take a portion of his monthly income in Canada if he finds a steady job. So far, Bowser has only paid off $175 of the debt through small monthly installments from his job in the prison library.
Switch hacker Gary Bowser has been released from jail early, but still has to pay $14.5 million in damages, of which he says he's paid $175.
— VGC (@VGC_News) April 18, 2023
Bowser has to pay Nintendo 25-30% of his gross income, likely 'for the rest of his life'.https://t.co/fFU9KgnfQg pic.twitter.com/b3kfZ0b8Mz
Although he is unlikely to be able to pay off the full amount, Nintendo’s lawyer stated that the company wanted to use Bowser’s case to send a message to other hackers. It is uncertain what Bowser’s future holds and how he will move on from this incident.
Social media reactions
In a Facebook post, Lucas Lk expressed that he did not defend piracy, but felt that when it comes to Nintendo and Ubisoft, all punishment is not enough.
Another person, Lucas Oliver, shared a Facebook post where he criticized Nintendo, stating that it was not fair to have to pay 30% of one’s salary to a multi-billionaire company.
We express our sympathies and offer condolences to the family, friends, and community of Gary Bowser as they come to terms with this tragedy. We will keep this page updated and welcome any feedback or input through the provided feedback form.
FAQs
Who is Gary Bowser?
Gary Bowser is a Canadian computer engineer and the alleged leader of hacking group Team Xecuter, known for selling devices that enabled pirated games on Nintendo Switch.
Why was Gary Bowser in prison?
Gary Bowser was imprisoned for 40 months and fined $14.5 million in 2021 due to his involvement in a hacking group called Team Xecuter, where he confessed to being part of a criminal enterprise that produced and sold illegal hacking devices.
What are the latest updates on the case?
Gary Bowser was released from prison in 2022 but still owes Nintendo $10 million in damages, with the company able to take a portion of his monthly income in Canada, and he has only paid off $175 so far.