Is it possible to update games via a local user using a PC?

[ElkinGuns]

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if it might be possible in the future to develop a tool that lets me update my Switch 2 games using a PC (without needing a Switch 1).
I want to keep my Switch's update rate as low as possible but still be able to play updated versions of the games (as much as possible).

 

[TehLexinator]

Eventually? Probably.

But why not get a used OG Switch for this? FBM in my area has multiples for under $100.

 

[ihaveahax]

No it is not possible without the Switch 2 already being hacked. If you don’t update your console, you completely cut yourself off from future games and game updates.

 

[Marc_LFD]

You can update using Nintendo's servers on the NS2 itself, yes it will nag you to do a firmware update, but after you boot into Recovery Mode and then back to the regular system it's all good. Obviously enable the DNS blocker or Airplane Mode.

I've done that myself.

 

[Jayro]

Meh, just keep your old Switch around for that.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

You can update using Nintendo's servers on the NS2 itself, yes it will nag you to do a firmware update, but after you boot into Recovery Mode and then back to the regular system it's all good. Obviously enable the DNS blocker or Airplane Mode.

I've done that myself.

It won't immediately force you to do a firmware update as of right now, but that's unlikely to last. They probably have built in a grace period so after a certain number of days since a firmware update was released it will completely cut you off from online access until you install the update. Given how frequent the updates have been in the launch period it would be frustrating to users if they were immediately forced to update every time they tried to play even if they just updated the day before. Once updates become less frequent I expect them to remove the grace period completely, so it will behave like the Switch 1. But even if they don't, they probably won't allow ancient firmware to connect.

Post automatically merged: Jul 4, 2025

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if it might be possible in the future to develop a tool that lets me update my Switch 2 games using a PC (without needing a Switch 1).
I want to keep my Switch's update rate as low as possible but still be able to play updated versions of the games (as much as possible).

Almost certainly we would need certs/keys dumped from a real Switch 2 in order to have the PC pretend to be a Switch 2 in order to send game updates to a real Switch 2. Can't really do that without exploits.
But if we had exploits, such a tool would not be of any use. You'd be able to install update nsps directly, and seeing as they are not signed per console, it wouldn't even require sigpatches to do so if they are clean dumps.
The only way we would not need certs/keys is if there was a flaw in the verification, a la Trucha Bug. It's highly unlikely that will ever happen again.

 

[BionicGecko]

Meh, just keep your old Switch around for that.

How does that work? Where can I find info on using a Switch 1 to update Switch 2 games?

 

[wurstpistole]

I don't understand what updating Switch 2 games has to do with a Switch 1.