The Nintendo Switch 2 has been jailbroken approximately 16 months after its initial launch, according to reports. This breakthrough reportedly utilizes an AI-assisted exploit, enabling users to modify games, install homebrew applications, and download save files. A video circulating online appears to show modified characters within a game, suggesting the exploit's capabilities.
The exploit is said to be based on a "userland exploit" discovered in July, which permitted external code execution within specific applications or games. While the earlier exploit did not facilitate piracy, the latest development takes it a step further. The individual credited with this achievement claims to have collaborated with OpenAI Codex, with the process taking about two weeks of substantial effort.
This method requires running a specific backward-compatible Switch 1 game to leverage the exploit, and this must be repeated each time the Switch 2 is powered on. Consequently, it is not yet a straightforward process for widespread piracy. The e-store game used in the exploit has also been publicly identified, potentially allowing Nintendo to remove it and mitigate the vulnerability. Historically, the initial Switch model was also compromised early on, primarily through hardware vulnerabilities that Nintendo could not patch, leaving launch versions susceptible to jailbreaking.
While the current exploit is "tethered," meaning the modifications are not permanent and require reapplication, it represents a significant security breach for Nintendo. The company has a history of cracking down on unauthorized modifications and devices, including banning users from their online services for exploiting backward compatibility for piracy. Nintendo has been contacted for comment.