Earlier this year, a Nintendo Switch hack using a hardware vulnerability found in most Tegra devices has been discovered, allowing users to run unsigned content such as emulators and homebrew software. While Nintendo didn't comment on the matter, the Japanese company did act quickly, and the first patched units can now be found in stores.
According to fresh online reports, the first Nintendo Switch units with patched hardware vulnerability are now out in the wild. The updated hardware has been fixed through a system known as iPatches, making it impossible to run unsigned software on Nintendo Switch through the bootflaw hack.
While homebrew often leads to piracy, plenty of cool things can already be done on a hacked Nintendo Switch. Earlier this month, videos have been shared online showing the GameCube emulator Dolphin running on the console through Lakka, a Linux distribution aimed at turning small computer devices into retrogaming consoles featuring a minimal operating system using RetroArch as a front-end. Most games are also emulated with good performance, so it will be interesting to see how far things will go in the next few months.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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