Homebrew Is possible to make a flashcart for the switch?

[Ankris]

I have a modified switch and I was thinking to make a r4-like cart for loading games, but I have read they have implemented a lot of security things on it. Can someone explain how.it checks the cartridge? I have a hardware made for it but I need to make the switch read it

 

[Hayato213]

It is possible but no one have made one yet.

 

[Ankris]

I know. I'm on it but for trying code it first needs to be detected and allowed by the switch. Because of that I need to know how works the cartridge verification on it.

 

[FAST6191]

So you want something like the Sky3ds or 360 DVD stuff where only 1:1 copies of original games in region if that is a thing for the device in question get loaded (no cheats, ROM hacks, region free, downloadable games...) but presumably working on an otherwise stock device? Or would you settle for modifying the firmware as well such that the cart could function as basically just another storage method like the USB and SD methods available already (but having whatever the current requirements are to get a custom firmware going on)?

Personally I would develop the latter first and then see about figuring out if you could fake whatever full set of read protocols, encryption and additional data (don't know if Switch games are like the 3ds and some DS stuff in having a unique header/signature somewhere in it all that could be used for authentication/duplicate detection) that might be needed, and implementing a means of switching as you would presumably not have a software means of doing it*.

*technically the 360 drive emulators also presented a USB full of pictures that it controlled, you select the picture of the game you want to play with the 360's in menu picture viewer and the drive emulator dutifully loads the disc image. Whether you could or would want to do that here I don't know.

Afraid I don't have any real technical info on the Switch like I might have for now older devices. I would probably look first at whatever open source custom firmwares have in this regard (though likely minimal as most other checks probably happen in the menu)
https://switchbrew.org/wiki/Lotus3 and https://switchbrew.org/wiki/Gamecard appear to have a few things, though probably not enough to even attempt the modded firmware approach noted above.

 

[Deleted member 194275]

For vita, we have that that you insert on game slot: https://pt.aliexpress.com/i/32964601296.html

Unless anything changed since I last used, It is by any means a flash card like R4, it just add regular storage to a modded PS Vita. For Vita it is a big deal, as the only storage options are a rare and expansive proprietary card, but for switch I don't know if it would get the same appeal.

I think what you meant (and I think what would be more useful) is a gamecard that is re writable (or accept a SD-Card) to play games on not modded consoles, and I dont believe it is coming, not because is impossible software-wise but because Nintendo is who produce the gamecarts for every single game (I think it is the only component that they make in Japan). I don't believe that the machinery to do those carts exists elsewhere, so an individual interesting in producing a R4-Switch would have to face the costs of reverse engineering the machinery and the carts, to then mod it in a way that it still is functional. It is doable, but seems not viable.

 

[Ankris]

Like @fastamx79 said Im going to use the first idea. But like the 3ds r4 it should emulate a normal cart in the console side. But I dunno how to do it.thanks everyone. I'm going to read all the links there.

 

[Deleted member 514389]

No, as the gamecard reader's security (it even has its own FW-updates) are way to hard to bypass if your name isn't NINTENDO.

Sigpatches are the only *real* way...
Otherwise: nope.

EDIT:
Someone should really make a sticky post on "y u no switchflash cardz pl0x ?"
There are other threads alredy.

TL;DR: Nope. Impossible aaand: Nope.

 

[Deleted member 546149]

Almost impossible as of now

 

[Kopimist]

While I don't own a Switch so i'm not up and up on the security end of things with it (outside of following the scene a bit out of interest), I imagine, developing a flashcart would be fruitless, as Nintendo would likely find a way to block it with an update even if you found a way to get it to boot etc. I mean maybe if the flashcart has its own upgradable firmware you could play a game of cat and mouse and release new updates every time Nintendo does to keep it functional, but that seems like an awful lot of work when CFW already exists that readily available. Not trying ti discourage you in anyway just giving my 2 cents.

Would it be cool to see a flashcart on the Switch? yes of course it would be, would it be worth all the effort though when there's already solutions readily available (although on newer consoles, soldering is required but still)? Idk.

 

[Ankris]

and would be possible launch a dongle from the cart slot in rcm mode? it would be easier to carry, and i can launch sx os or anything from it without having literally a block of circuits connected to the charge port

 

[Draxzelex]

First off, "RCM Mode" is redundant as RCM stands for Recovery Mode. Secondly, the console only reads from the USB port in RCM; nothing is read from the cartridge slot until the operating system, Horizon, is initialized.

 

[gogereaver]

its just like with the 3ds if you emulate the cart fully you certently can make one. the issue of course is figuring out that carts security and emulating it.

 

[gogereaver]

its just like with the 3ds if you emulate the cart fully you certently can make one. the issue of course is figuring out that carts security and emulating it.