Hello there! I just found a way to play .NSP games for higher firmwares on my 4.1.0 Switch.

THIS ALSO WORKS WITH ATMOSPHERE /w sigpatches


These methods seem to be obsolete, since the newest Tinfoil builds ignore the "minimum required firmware"-info in the xml-files of any NSP. Just Install any game/update/DLC with the newest Tinfoil and it should just work out of the box! (If the keygeneration limitation is still met!)

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KEEP IN MIND:
1. only basegames and updates can be installed with newest tinfoil! DLC don't work, yet! But update patching doesn't work with my method (yet?)
2. Not every game can be used with every Switch Firmware! Read the red text at the end of this post for more Information!


I tested this method with Pokemon Quest and Captain Toad, both start after editing the games.

NEW Method for playing games with lower Firmware:

1. Open NSP with Hexeditor e.g. HxD (https://mh-nexus.de/en/programs.php)
2. search for "RequiredSystemVersion" in the file
3. change <RequiredSystemVersion>335675392</RequiredSystemVersion> to all zeroes like that <RequiredSystemVersion>000000000</RequiredSystemVersion>
3.1 Count the digits again! dont forget any of them!
4. save file and install nsp!

That means no extracting anymore! Installable with e.g. Devmenu, too!

Sadly this method doesn't work for game patches/updates: they still force you to update!

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Old Method for playing games with lower Firmware:
You need to do the following:
1. extract the .NSP file with hactool in a cmd window:
"/path/to/hactool.exe" -tpfs0 --pfs0dir=GameFolder "/path/to/YourGame.nsp"

keep in mind to change the path and name of hactool.exe and YourGame.nsp according to your setup!

2. edit the ....cnmt.xml file in the extracted folder with wordpad:
change e.g <RequiredSystemVersion>335675392</RequiredSystemVersion> to <RequiredSystemVersion>0</RequiredSystemVersion>

protip: the string is almost at the bottom of the xml file!

3. copy the folder of the game with all the nca, etc. files to
SD:/tinfoil/extracted/GameFolder/....

4. Boot ReiNX and install extracted NSP with tinfoil

5. ????

6. Profit!



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If you plan on doing this often, prepare a batchfile:

1. make a new whatever.txt file
2. edit and put in the following command (but according to your setup):

"/path/to/hactool.exe" -tpfs0 --pfs0dir=GameFolder "%1"
pause

3. save the file and rename the fileextension to .cmd.
4. you can now drag/drop any .nsp file on this .cmd file and you will get your game extracted into GameFolder.


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PLEASE HELP ME:

It seems that only some games run on lower firmwares through this method, since the game encryption etc. has changed over time!
The "Keygeneration" in the XML file should tell us which FW is at least needed to play a game!

Keygeneration 0=at least FW ??? needed?, e.g. VOEZ, Mario+Rabbids
Keygeneration 1=at least FW ??? needed?
Keygeneration 2=at least FW ??? needed?
Keygeneration 3=at least FW ??? needed?, e.g. Super Mario Odyssey
Keygeneration 4=at least FW 4.1.0 needed?, e.g. Captain Toad, Pokemon Quest, Octopath Traveler, Limbo, Lego Incredibles, Hello Neighbor
Keygeneration 5=at least FW 5.0.0< needed! e.g. Nekopara Thanks @puppydg68

I need help testing those games on low firmwares! Please tell me on which firmware you are on and what games work/don't work.

If I get enough data (game name+firmware of your switch+key generation of the game) I'll compile a list of compatible games!

When you try to install a game with higher key generation than your FW is capable of the game will install fine with tinfoil (no Error)! But in the home menu you will only have a grey box with a loading circle in it!
We have currently no way to play those games!
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Get the newest Tinfoil by Adubbz here: Click!
Added old Tinfoil build. Works for me but no updates allowed!
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UPDATE: Keyfile not mentioned anymore, since it doesn't seem to be needed for .nsp extraction! Thanks @Wizard0f0z for accidentally finding that out!
UPDATE2: Keygeneration in cnmt.xml should be an indicator which fw you at least need for the game to be played
UPDATE3: Newest Keygeneration (5) added. Those games seem to work only on 5.0.0+.
UPDATE4: Error when installing higher key generation game added.
UPDATE5: easier method added!
UPDATE6: Added Tinfoil files! @Adubbz I hope it's okay?
UPDATE7: greyed everything out (methods are obsolete as of Aug. 5th), since Tinfoil ignores the min. Fw. requirement!

 

[877]

Yes, it's against rules from this forum. However, you can easily find it on several Discord channels with have been posted on this forum.

On the case cheers buddy

 

[OperationNT]

Sorry, I stay in holidays with only my mobile so I don't have the file to share. If you even go on YouTube, you can find some tutorial videos with appropriate links.

 

[877]

@Jeb

Sorry, I stay in holidays with only my mobile so I don't have the file to share. If you even go on YouTube, you can find some tutorial videos with appropriate links.

No probs thanks, is it meant to work on 4.1.0 as it’s asking me to update?

I’m thinking of just going to 5.x and blow the fuses, so much hassle!

 

[OperationNT]

It works wn 4.0.1 through LayeredFS over SMO or Hulu.

 

[XpertXP1]

Anyone able to get Lifeless Planet installed on 4.1.0?

 

[Pythonimus]

Are we able to re-encrypt ncas with a different key?
Like, a game using key-generation 5, decrypting and encrypting with keygeneration 4.
Will it then be playable on 4.x.x firmware?

 

[Draxzelex]

Are we able to re-encrypt ncas with a different key?
Like, a game using key-generation 5, decrypting and encrypting with keygeneration 4.
Will it then be playable on 4.x.x firmware?

Tried it already, there's other data that makes games only playable on higher firmwares.

 

[Bullseye]

Has anyone tried installing the update to sonic mania on a low FW like 4.1?

Edit: with the latest build, I mean. As I have tried with an old build and it was not successful

 

[palyons]

I've been trying to get Captain Toad (dumped from my own cart and converted to NSP) running, unsuccessfully on Firmware 4.1.0 (Latest ReiNX nightly), using Old version of TinFoil, the game does in fact install, however when I get back to main screen, all I get is a blank icon with a loading animation inside of it, and when I start the game, It cannot be started.

 

[Bloodlust]

Here's the latest version compiled by @DeuX :

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GO2DcAtCVahOH6P-7NIsIqtMAbcM32qK


But for playing games/updates/DLCs that required a higher firmware it doesn't work as intended, you can install them but as soon as you start it, it requires an update...

My personal tests:

Switch on 4.1.0, nsp that require 5.X.X:

I can install and play base games with the "old but good" version.

I can install but NOT play base games with the new TinFoil version.

I can install but NOT play DLCs / updates with the new TinFoil version.

It seems like with the new version installs the nsp in an different way than the old version

How about the latest snk heroines update and DLC which requires the update to be installed first? Hollow knight 1.4.3.2 and Mario kart v1.7 update which is confirmed to run only on firmware v6?

 

[Isaac_ssbm]

Is there a way to use tinfoil on SX OS?

 

[khuong]

Is there a way to use tinfoil on SX OS?

HOLD R Button while clicking album.

 

[Bloodlust]

I am still on firmware 5.1.0 but I noticed that older games that work with this firmware has updates on NSP that requires firmware 6.0 to work. Can tinfoil enable me to play those updated patches with 5.1.0?

Also, will nsp base games with 6.0 required work as well?

 

[shchmue]

I am still on firmware 5.1.0 but I noticed that older games that work with this firmware has updates on NSP that requires firmware 6.0 to work. Can tinfoil enable me to play those updated patches with 5.1.0?

Also, will nsp base games with 6.0 required work as well?

maybe, all you can do is try (or unpack the nsp with hactool then inspect the largest nca with hactool and titlekey and check the key generation and hope nothing internal needs calls from 6.x)

 

[8BitWonder]

maybe, all you can do is try (or unpack the nsp with hactool then inspect the largest nca with hactool and titlekey and check the key generation and hope nothing internal needs calls from 6.x)

You can also open NSPs in a generic hex editor like HxD and search for the <keygeneration> tag since it's in a plain-text xml.
That's what I do when checking required firmware.

 

[shchmue]

You can also open NSPs in a generic hex editor like HxD and search for the <keygeneration> tag since it's in a plain-text xml.
That's what I do when checking required firmware.

yeah, that'll take care of the xml which is all the 'ignore firmware version' install does, i'm just suggesting going beyond that to check the actual encryption key the ncas use

 

[Bloodlust]

maybe, all you can do is try (or unpack the nsp with hactool then inspect the largest nca with hactool and titlekey and check the key generation and hope nothing internal needs calls from 6.x)

Thanks for the info. Is there anyway to check for malicious code in a nsp using hactool as well? Heard there are consoles getting bricked because of the new Pikachu nsp out there

Sent from my MI MAX 3 using Tapatalk

 

[nswuser007]

If theres a game release thats the base version xci and then 3 update v1 v2 v3 nsp releases,

can you install the xci and then v3 nsp or do you need to install all the other v1 v2 before after installing teh xci? thanks for the help!