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XCI installer released by new Switch group 2168-0002

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This new homebrew will allow you to install XCI files directly to your Switch without having to convert them to NSPs first. It is based off the NSP-installer homebrew, Tinfoil by @Adubbz.

What is an XCI file?
An XCI file is a gamecard dump, while an NSP is an installable eShop file. While XCI files can only be played directly with SX OS, they can now be installed just like an NSP on both SX OS and ReiNX.


How does it work?
  • It extracts the NCAs from the XCI file
  • It changes the one byte in the header that differentiates gamecard files and eShop titles
  • It rebuilds the metadata file and sends it to Tinfoil to begin installing (the metadata file describes the other NCAs present in the file)

Precautions
This homebrew is still a WIP.
  • If you use an exFAT-formatted SD card, please back up all your data before using this homebrew, as it has a small chance to corrupt the card.
  • Some XCI files will not work. If you come across any that do not work, please report them in the main discussion thread.

Where can I get it?
  • Gitlab repository is here
  • Official discussion thread is here

Who is 2168-0002?
The members are as follows:

They can be reached by Twitter at @2168_0002 and can be identified on GBAtemp by their signatures. There are more projects in the pipeline.
 

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Vorde

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Once some more of the bugs have been ironed out, and it has less of a chance to corrupt SD cards I will try it out.
Good job on the work though guys :) Been following ReiNX and the Switch scene for a while, it's always nice to see one more step towards easier to use CFW and setups (y'know, for the normies lol)
 
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AveSatanas

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Huntereb said:
Awesome! Another score for community-driven, free-software solutions! Will this be eventually incorporated directly into tinfoil's main branch? Would be nice to have a singular solution to NSP/XCI installation.
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Contributing our changes to upstream is one of the core values of 2168. There's plans to send the XCI installing features to Tinfoil upstream once the bugs are ironed out and more features are added.
 
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m4xw

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AveSatanas said:
Contributing our changes to upstream is one of the core values of 2168. There's plans to send the XCI installing features to Tinfoil upstream once the bugs are ironed out and more features are added.
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After breaking the commit history like this? haha
I thought my eyes pop out of their sockets
 
xtrem3x

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tinbs said:
XCI's were unusable directly with CFW that wasn't SX OS without conversion. This is an option for people who have (access to) dumps to just use them as-is.

Proud of you guys ❤️
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Would be better if ReiNX just added XCI support.

Everybody says XCI support isn't available because anti piracy and blah blah blah
But if it's this easy to play XCI's anyway, why not just add support like in SXOS? Unless they don't know how..?
 
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m4xw said:
After breaking the commit history like this? haha
I thought my eyes pop out of their sockets
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Good point, I'll restore history.

xtrem3x said:
Would be better if ReiNX just added XCI support.

Everybody says XCI support isn't available because anti piracy and blah blah blah
But if it's this easy to play XCI's anyway, why not just add support like in SXOS? Unless they don't know how..?
Click to expand...
XCI loading isn't super easy. I know that a couple people are working on it though.
 
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xtrem3x said:
Would be better if ReiNX just added XCI support.

Everybody says XCI support isn't available because anti piracy and blah blah blah
But if it's this easy to play XCI's anyway, why not just add support like in SXOS? Unless they don't know how..?
Click to expand...

Who is saying XCI support isnt available because of anti-piracy? That may be the case for atmosphere, but I haven't seen anyone else claim this.
This isnt playing XCI's, this is installing them to the system.
Different devs have different priorities. It also doesn't do to compare TX making a commercial product to people writing code in their spare time with no monetary goal.
 
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m4xw said:
But... it is.
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Based! @m4xw the creator of the libnx Retroarch port that's used to play pirated backups from older generation consoles is going to bring us a XCI loader!! What are you gonna name it?

m4xw said:
The only use-case is piracy. Not interested.
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Oh...
 
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m4xw said:
The only use-case is piracy. Not interested.
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While it's true that it might be used for piracy, especially installing/loading XCI allows legal backup loading in a way that makes sense (it removes the need to carry around a bunch of gamecarts). Anyways, I can't force you to work on anything. Thanks for commenting anyways.
 
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Fascinating!
"Hey mate give your BOTW game for a minute!":D

PS: Will this require more space (for the NSP extraction) other than the installed game?
 
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the general thought is XCI is more "secure" than NSP due to the borrowing games plausible deniability factor where as NSP's Nintendo could check a server side ledger and know yo didn't purchase whatever.

I don't know if thats bogus stuff the internet believes, but assuming not.
is a installed XCI using this visually identical to a non installed XCI if Nintendo checks logs or looks into it etc.?
 

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