Hacking How can I update my cartridge game without updating my firmware?

[jebediah]

I have a Switch on older 5.x and do not want to update it.
I bought that Switch game and I want to update it.
I want to play that game updated, from Horizon, and online.
How do I do that?
Many thanks

 

[Draxzelex]

Download the update .NSP from your illegal website of choice and install it via your title installer of choice such as Rommenu, Tinfoil, or Devmenu.

 

[Lacius]

I have a Switch on older 5.x and do not want to update it.
I bought that Switch game and I want to update it.
I want to play that game updated, from Horizon, and online.
How do I do that?
Many thanks

Do what @Draxzelex said and download/install the NSP update. However, you need to be careful doing this. By installing some update files, you might change the required system version for your game. For example, you might have a game that requires 4.1.0, but after you install a game update, the game might require 5.1.0.

 

[jebediah]

Thanks a bunch, I'll give that a go!

 

[jebediah]

I used Tinfoil and it worked like a charm! Thanks again!
Happy to provide more detailed steps if someone needs them.

 

[Mouser X]

Is this "legal"? I mean, if I install updates this way, will the game run on virgin Horizon? Will it flag my Switch for a ban? Superbeat Xonic is requesting an update. While the game is playable, it "freezes" after every song, every "mission", and in numerous other areas. The "freezing" is because it's trying to get online, but can't. I realise the update might not fix this (because I'd still not be online), but it's *really* annoying, so I'd be willing to try it, in case it does fix it.

There's numerous other games I want to update, but that one takes the cake for annoyance. I'm on 4.1.0, and waiting for a specific dongle, to AutoRCM install 5.1.0, fuse-burning free. I've only encountered 2 games I can't run at all (Octopath Traveler, and VOEZ [cart]) on 4.1.0, so I don't feel a need to update yet. But being able to install game updates would be really nice. Mouser X over.

 

[OkazakiTheOtaku]

if I install updates this way, will the game run on virgin Horizon?

No. It won't have the correct ticket.

Will it flag my Switch for a ban?

Assume that installing any NSP will flag you for a ban.

 

[Mouser X]

Thank you very much. I wasn't sure if each update had its own ticket, or if it relied on the cart's ticket. So, *is* there a way to "safely" update my games, without updating Horizon? It sounds like the answer is no (which is what I figured, and have been working with for months). The question asked by this thread wasn't clear (but is now clearer, thank you ), so I wanted confirmation. Mouser X over.

 

[OkazakiTheOtaku]

Thank you very much. I wasn't sure if each update had its own ticket, or if it relied on the cart's ticket. So, *is* there a way to "safely" update my games, without updating Horizon? It sounds like the answer is no (which is what I figured, and have been working with for months). The question asked by this thread wasn't clear (but is now clearer, thank you ), so I wanted confirmation. Mouser X over.

From what I understand, every "title" installed has a ticket, whether or not it is its own individual executable or not (the same as it was on the 3DS/Wii U).

 

[jebediah]

No. It won't have the correct ticket.

Assume that installing any NSP will flag you for a ban.

The point for me was to update my purchased cartridge game to benefit from a new game mode while keeping my Switch on a lower version, AND to run the updated game on genuine Horizon OS, not on CFW. Since I was able to do just that, @OkazakiTheOtaku you make me confused. Now my game is updated and I get my new game mode when I boot the Switch normally on its factory Horizon OS, so what gives?

Could someone maybe clarify whether doing so (updating game via NSP and then run game from Horizon) is safe from banning? If not, then is it from the point that an NSP update is installed, the point when you run the updated game from the cartridge, or the point when you run the game while online (which I haven't done so far)?

 

[OkazakiTheOtaku]

The point for me was to update my purchased cartridge game to benefit from a new game mode while keeping my Switch on a lower version, AND to run the updated game on genuine Horizon OS, not on CFW. Since I was able to do just that, @OkazakiTheOtaku you make me confused. Now my game is updated and I get my new game mode when I boot the Switch normally on its factory Horizon OS, so what gives?
Could someone maybe clarify whether doing so (updating game via NSP and then run game from Horizon) is safe from banning? If not, then is it from the point that an NSP update is installed, the point when you run the updated game from the cartridge, or the point when you run the game while online (which I haven't done so far)?

You were able to install an update NSP in CFW, then reboot into stock firmware and use the update? That's...surprising. That didn't work for me when I tried it.
I stand by what I said that installing an .nsp is not a great idea if you are trying to not get banned, but the fact that an installed .nsp works in regular Horizon is a bit crazy and should be investigated by other people.

 

[jebediah]

You were able to install an update NSP in CFW, then reboot into stock firmware and use the update?

I candidly did, yes.

Actually, what I did was I installed the NSP update without ignoring the firmware requirement first, which after rebooting into clean Horizon and trying to launch the game prompted me to update my console's firmware. Obviously, I should have said Yes to "Ignore firmware requirement?" when installing the NSP with Tinfoil. But since the NSP update was installed on my SD card, I simply deleted the update from it. Booting back into Horizon (just to check), trying to launch the game gave me a prompt saying some installed files are now missing, while still offering to launch what I assumed was a non-updated version. So I launched the game but it didn't work (loading indefinitely without freezing). I then rebooted into CFW, re-installed the NSP update to my SD card, but this time asking Tinfoil to ignore the firmware requirement. I then rebooted into clean Horizon with my cartridge and SD card in, and boom I could play my updated game.

 

[jebediah]

@OkazakiTheOtaku I'm thinking of going online again. By now, does the community know whether it's safe after what I've done?

 

[pLaYeR^^]

@OkazakiTheOtaku I'm thinking of going online again. By now, does the community know whether it's safe after what I've done?

If you were online during CFW, it’s not safe.

 

[OkazakiTheOtaku]

@OkazakiTheOtaku I'm thinking of going online again. By now, does the community know whether it's safe after what I've done?

The basic rule of thumb that I tell anyone that asks is that if you have ever experimented with any unauthorized software or modifications, it will never be 100% safe to go back online.

 

[DocKlokMan]

Is this "legal"? I mean, if I install updates this way, will the game run on virgin Horizon? Will it flag my Switch for a ban? Superbeat Xonic is requesting an update. While the game is playable, it "freezes" after every song, every "mission", and in numerous other areas. The "freezing" is because it's trying to get online, but can't. I realise the update might not fix this (because I'd still not be online), but it's *really* annoying, so I'd be willing to try it, in case it does fix it.

There's numerous other games I want to update, but that one takes the cake for annoyance. I'm on 4.1.0, and waiting for a specific dongle, to AutoRCM install 5.1.0, fuse-burning free. I've only encountered 2 games I can't run at all (Octopath Traveler, and VOEZ [cart]) on 4.1.0, so I don't feel a need to update yet. But being able to install game updates would be really nice. Mouser X over.

Yes, installing updates this way will work on stock Horizon because unlike games and DLC, updates have common tickets and are not console or NNID unique. In fact, their tickets can be downloaded along with the NSP as well. So update NSPs actually have legitimate and signed tickets and will work on native firmware. That said, while the update itself won't get you banned, traces left behind by running custom firmware may be detected and eventually put you on a ban list.

I candidly did, yes.

Actually, what I did was I installed the NSP update without ignoring the firmware requirement first, which after rebooting into clean Horizon and trying to launch the game prompted me to update my console's firmware. Obviously, I should have said Yes to "Ignore firmware requirement?" when installing the NSP with Tinfoil. But since the NSP update was installed on my SD card, I simply deleted the update from it. Booting back into Horizon (just to check), trying to launch the game gave me a prompt saying some installed files are now missing, while still offering to launch what I assumed was a non-updated version. So I launched the game but it didn't work (loading indefinitely without freezing). I then rebooted into CFW, re-installed the NSP update to my SD card, but this time asking Tinfoil to ignore the firmware requirement. I then rebooted into clean Horizon with my cartridge and SD card in, and boom I could play my updated game.

Yes, that's correct. Updates can be installed in CFW and still played in OFW.