Japanese YouTuber’s pet fish hacks Nintendo account, changes username and spends money

A popular Japanese gamer’s pet fish managed to inadvertently change the name on his Nintendo Switch account, download a new avatar for him, set up a PayPal account, and run up a credit card bill, according to reports. The incident, which took place during a live-streaming session, has garnered attention for its unusual and humorous nature.

According to CNN, YouTuber Mutekimaru had set up an advanced motion detector that visually divides the fish aquarium into several sections, with each area corresponding to a separate gaming button on the Nintendo Switch console. The camera detected the motion of the fish and picked up the corresponding button wherever it stopped, allowing it to remotely control the buttons.

Initially, everything was going smoothly as the fish swam around the tank, controlling the game. However, things took a turn for the worse when the game crashed due to an unknown error while Mutekimaru had stepped away from the system. In the next seven hours, as the fish continued to swim through the tank, the console returned to the home screen, with the pet still inadvertently in control.

Without actually touching the screen, the fish successfully managed to change the owner’s name on his Switch, download a new avatar for him, and even set up a PayPal account, according to CNN. It also “eagerly read the terms and conditions” on the Nintendo eShop, showcasing a level of intelligence that surprised many viewers.

The fish then added 500 yen (£3) to the owner’s Switch account, while inadvertently exposing his credit card details during the live stream. The gamer quickly filed for a refund with Nintendo to rectify the situation.

The video of the incident has since gone viral, amassing over 482,000 views on YouTube and sparking humorous comments from viewers. Many found the situation amusing, with one user jokingly commenting, “Sorry to hear about the fish going on a shopping spree. I hope it got a good talking to about responsibility and money spending.”

Another viewer humorously imagined the scenario of having to explain to customer service that their pet fish had made purchases on their account, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.

Overall, the story of Mutekimaru’s pet fish inadvertently taking control of his Nintendo Switch account serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and entertaining nature of live-streaming and the internet. It showcases the unexpected ways in which technology and pets can intersect, creating moments of laughter and surprise for viewers around the world.