Switch 2 has been hacked on day 1 but it’s not a full jailbreak yet. It’s more of a tiny crack in the surface

The Switch 2 launch day definitely wasn’t drama-free. We all probably saw what went down at that GameStop in New York, but things really blew up when people started claiming you don’t actually own your new console and that hacking it might get it bricked by Nintendo. I’ll break that down in a bit, but first, there’s something even more interesting: someone actually managed to (sort of) hack the Switch 2 on launch day.

Early Switch 2 hack explained

David Buchanan shared a short video on BlueSky where he showed off a userland exploit that let him get Switch 2 to render a custom graphic. But just to be clear, this exploit doesn’t go deep.

This doesn’t mess with the kernel or any of the secure parts of the system. It only uses return-oriented programming (ROP) tricks in the user-level software. So no, it’s not a full jailbreak yet, there’s still no way to install custom firmware or mess with the system at a deeper level.

There’s still a long way from a full hack. Switch 2 has tougher security than the original console, and getting total access would mean finding deeper vulnerabilities that break into the kernel and secure areas. That’s no small task, it could take months. And you can bet Nintendo will be quick to patch anything the moment it pops up, as they do take hacking their consoles very seriously – and you can’t really be shocked here. Nintendo takes action against this, as it violates their EULA.

Related:Nintendo Switch 2 sells 5 million units in first month becoming the fastest-selling console of all time

Since that’s about where my knowledge of the hacking scene ends, I’ll hand it off to someone who knows way more. Here’s a solid breakdown from Low Level that explains exactly what Buchanan did and where things stand with the possibility of hacking Switch 2.

Do I own Switch 2 or not?

My goodness, I haven’t heard nonsense like this in a while. When I first saw someone on Reddit say, “good luck with the console you don’t even own,” I was honestly confused. It didn’t take long to figure out how ridiculous that claim is, so here’s a quick rundown of what’s actually going on and the infamous End User License Agreement (EULA).

EULASource: Nintendo

Nintendo’s EULA says you can’t tamper with their online services or software, or they might disable (brick) your console. You own the hardware, but not the software – that’s been standard for a long time. Modifying someone else’s software without permission is illegal, and Nintendo doesn’t allow it (no surprises here).

Some people confuse owning the console with owning the software or online access, thinking they’re just “renting” the device, but that’s totally misleading. The EULA limits how you use Nintendo’s software and services, not your actual console.

While Nintendo protects against hacking, the bricking threat only applies if you mess with their online services – not if you modify the system firmware or use the console offline.

• Nintendo
• hackers
• consoles
• Switch 2