Hacking Best practice for preserving Switch 2 exploitability?

[Ettino]

Purchasing a 2nd S2 specifically for a possible hack. That way I can still play with my MK bundle while the long wait.

Yup. Ditto. This way I can enjoy the present and be ready for the future.

 

[subcon959]

I posted this in a different thread but there is supposedly a pretty significant day one patch for the Switch 2. Nintendo consider it so important that they are holding back launch units from reviewers until the patch is live. Now what could be so important that they don't want the unpatched consoles in anyone's hands?

 

[wischmob]

Makes me wonder if it is enough to prep the mSD card in one Switch 2 to have it be ready for use in the second Switch 2 without downloading anything / connecting. I'll definitely try this.

 

[subcon959]

Makes me wonder if it is enough to prep the mSD card in one Switch 2 to have it be ready for use in the second Switch 2 without downloading anything / connecting. I'll definitely try this.

It's not the card that matters, it's whether or not the console needs to download drivers to use it. The original Switch didn't come with exFAT drivers so it needed an update to be able to use it.

 

[Ondrashek06]

Of course not, but the point is this: Is it wise to prepare it for a possible future where you might need SD access for hacking purposes or not? If you were forced to do this connection later, you'd also be forced to get a higher FW version.

It's pretty much crystal ball territory, but still worth to think about.

If certain cartridges come packed with HorizonOS images, it might be possible to update to a version that isn't the latest.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Heya.

If someone was buying a Switch 2 with the explicit intention of busting it out only if/when it's exploitable, what is the best way to go about it? Polling seems to be a good way to guage responses so please, if you are inclined, make your choice on the above. Following up with reasons for/against your choice would also be appreciated.

Thanks, in advance, for your time.

JP

It won't be exploitable. You're wasting your time/money.

 

[yankii]

It won't be exploitable. You're wasting your time/money.

Drink [huff] the hopium.

 

[RyH2]

So what's everyone planning on doing now we know that the day one update is required to even boot a game or use a microsd card?

I've bought 2 and was planning on leaving one in the box and using one normally, now I'm not sure whether to do the day one update on the 'virgin' one. Feel like I need a third preorder now to cover all scenarios

 

[KiiWii]

I heard 1.xx has a pretty naughty issue.

Will be interesting to see what hackers do with unpatched 1.xx units (because they won’t be able to play any cart-based games).

 

[Marc_LFD]

Set up the console with the Express SD Card, update it (it's mandatory), and use a DNS blocker / keep it offline. That's what I'll do.

Post automatically merged: May 28, 2025

So what's everyone planning on doing now we know that the day one update is required to even boot a game or use a microsd card?

I've bought 2 and was planning on leaving one in the box and using one normally, now I'm not sure whether to do the day one update on the 'virgin' one. Feel like I need a third preorder now to cover all scenarios

That's gonna be an Express microSD card, not just a regular. You probably know, but loads still don't and or get confused with the "Extreme" ones.

Surely they could've used more distinctive names than Express and Extreme.

 

[SylverReZ]

Keep it sealed or never connect it to the internet in any way (unless they rigged it somehow where they force you to). But who knows. Maybe once modchips become available to dodge every loophole it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

Purchasing a 2nd S2 specifically for a possible hack. That way I can still play with my MK bundle while the long wait.

Seeming like Switch 1 backwards compatibility and expandable storage usage requires an internet connection for the first run so maybe do that to the side console and then pack it away.

Post automatically merged: May 28, 2025

So what's everyone planning on doing now we know that the day one update is required to even boot a game or use a microsd card?

I've bought 2 and was planning on leaving one in the box and using one normally, now I'm not sure whether to do the day one update on the 'virgin' one. Feel like I need a third preorder now to cover all scenarios

Correction. Only Switch 1 carts need an update according to the actual console box.

"A system update via the internet may be required to play compatible Nintendo Switch software"

 

[xtrem3x]

I'm going to do all the setting up on day 1 including grabbing any patches for Switch 1 games I own.
Then I'll be taking it offline.

There is a small risk, but at least I can use it doing it this way.
I also wanna test my Mig Switch with it, but will wait and see if anything bad happens to other people first

 

[Marc_LFD]

Keep it sealed or never connect it to the internet in any way (unless they rigged it somehow where they force you to). But who knows. Maybe once modchips become available to dodge every loophole it shouldn't be an issue.

If you do that, you can't use the console since Nintendo has made it mandatory to update.

 

[l7777]

If you do that, you can't use the console since Nintendo has made it mandatory to update.

There's really no downside to this strategy, he is going to have one to use normally and another that will either be modded at some point or not and can still be sold as NIB with little loss given Nintendo almost never discounts their equipment.

 

[ShinLarc]

It seems hard for me to find one while living in Japan. Lotteries are on lock down and Mercari and Yahoo auctions are going to prevent listings for awhile. I failed all the lotteries I have entered as well lol. I will go hunting for it next week locally I guess.

if i DO get one i will leave it in the box, throw it in the closet, and forget about it.

 

[tech3475]

It seems hard for me to find one while living in Japan. Lotteries are on lock down and Mercari and Yahoo auctions are going to prevent listings for awhile. I failed all the lotteries I have entered as well lol. I will go hunting for it next week locally I guess.

if i DO get one i will leave it in the box, throw it in the closet, and forget about it.

That may not be advisable:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/switch-2-requires-a-firmware-update-out-of-the-box.671600/

 

[metaljay]

Yeh I’m now super torn too, I bought 2 consoles purely to keep one locked up, but after seeing leaked retail units requiring a firmware update on day 0 to boot (check twitter you’ll see).

I voted on the poll

 

[Konsolenzocker]

I bought 2 Launch models. I will not use the day 1 patch, I will leave it in the original state first. The thing is, the Switch 2 likely has an internal browser to access hot spots with a login page. This browser should be several months old and could have exploits which build the first entry point.

 

[UltiGC]

This is tough hopefully someone will find something out soon after release. If not I’m going to probably just update my second switch so I can use SD cards.

Not sure how much can be done in the modding scene without an SD card to be honest.