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!

 

[adrifcastr]

Wohoo! Looking forward to it!

Finished most of the UI, the magical rest will take a couple hours though

 

[aos10]

Ty man, works perfect with Mario Tennis Ace (4.1.0)! ^^

Mario Tennis Ace works fine on 4.1 without this (I've tried physical dump of the game)
However update will make it unplayable.

 

[adrifcastr]

Mario Tennis Ace works fine on 4.1 without this (I've tried physical dump of the game)
However update will make it unplayable.

I don't have an update nsp atm, but I think that the same patching procedure should work on the update

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I don't have an update nsp atm, but I think that the same patching procedure should work on the update

yeah, should work fine

<KeyGenerationMin>4</KeyGenerationMin>
<RequiredSystemVersion>4518642188288</RequiredSystemVersion>

 

[Zocker4444]

Mario Tennis Ace works fine on 4.1 without this (I've tried physical dump of the game)
However update will make it unplayable.

<KeyGenerationMin>4</KeyGenerationMin>
<RequiredSystemVersion>335675392</RequiredSystemVersion>
<PatchId>0x0100bde00862a800</PatchId>

nope, the downloaded version of Mario Tennis Ace seems to force an update on 4.1.0 without this method. So there seem to be differences between cart games and Eshop games.

 

[adrifcastr]

<KeyGenerationMin>4</KeyGenerationMin>
<RequiredSystemVersion>335675392</RequiredSystemVersion>
<PatchId>0x0100bde00862a800</PatchId>

nope, the downloaded version of Mario Tennis Ace seems to force an update on 4.1.0 without this method. So there seem to be differences between cart games and Eshop games.

Cardridges come with the needed minimum fw of the corresponding min master key revision needed for crypto, e-shop titles don't as they regulary should just be downloadable on the latest fw

 

[pausuri]

Thanks for the Tutorial! I´ve tried Captain Toad and Octopath in a 4.1.0 Switch and it works perfect.
I was trying to rebuild all the files back to an NSP files via the NSP rebuild (https://gbatemp.net/threads/nspbuild-build-nsp-files.509816/) I generate the nsp file but when I install it via the SX OS built in nsp installer the games requires again to update the Switch...odd

 

[OkazakiTheOtaku]

It will be nice when updates and dlc can be installed with Tinfoil, so we can use this to get game patches on lower FW.
That, or when SX allows installation of unpacked .nsp

 

[adrifcastr]

It will be nice when updates and dlc can be installed with Tinfoil, so we can use this to get game patches on lower FW.
That, or when SX allows installation of unpacked .nsp

actually I don't see why packing it back into a .nsp container would affect the patched .xml at all

 

[OkazakiTheOtaku]

actually I don't see why packing it back into a .nsp container would affect the patched .xml at all

Oh, do we have a way to repack .nsp files? I didn't know. If so I'll repack an edited update with this method and try installing with SX OS.
My point was that Tinfoil can't do non-game .nsp files and SX can't install unpacked ones like Tinfoil.

 

[adrifcastr]

Oh, do we have a way to repack .nsp files? I didn't know. If so I'll repack an edited update with this method and try installing with SX OS.

yeah we have nspbuild thats a python script that creates the container and the header, my lil app will also use nspbuild for repacking, basically a 1-Click patching utility oh and afaik you need to use devmenu for updates and dlc.

 

[Wizard0f0z]

Yep, Darkest Dungeon works perfect in my switch and i try it on Hactool for test and gives me Failed to read file! =S I can't upload images because I'm new to the forum...

(sry for my english)

i just register today and posted img without any probleme. maybe you added a hypertext link, i did that today and i tought it was the img at first lol

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When games are installed with Tinfoil, where are they installed to? System memory or SD card?
Thanks

i think for the moment it's only sd. there's a place in setting of your switch that tells you the storage of console vs sd card i think

 

[Zocker4444]

Found a way better method to change minimum FW for games! see OP!


Unfortunately, it doesn't work with patches - they still force you to update.... they also have more digits in their XML for required firmware info... weird!

 

[Zocker4444]

Thanks for the Tutorial! I´ve tried Captain Toad and Octopath in a 4.1.0 Switch and it works perfect.
I was trying to rebuild all the files back to an NSP files via the NSP rebuild (https://gbatemp.net/threads/nspbuild-build-nsp-files.509816/) I generate the nsp file but when I install it via the SX OS built in nsp installer the games requires again to update the Switch...odd

try my new method in op. You won't have to unpack the NSP file and should be able to install it with SX installer

 

[pausuri]

try my new method in op. You won't have to unpack the NSP file and should be able to install it with SX installer

Thanks! I'm going to try it now

 

[Wizard0f0z]

Ok got the game extracted and ready for install, i either need to repack the release as a NSP file or need Tinfoil to install. How do I either repack it as a NSP or where can I find tinfoil?

Thanks!

i had it from ReiNX signature patch folders from Logic sunrise

 

[Draxzelex]

For anyone trying to use this on 3.0, it won't work because the games installed are still asking for a valid ticket to launch them. This works on 4.X and 5.X firmwares that have the leaked patched ES 4.X and 5.X firmwares. Although I've heard that there are now patched ES firmwares for 2.X and 3.X if you know where to look.

 

[puppydg68]

Found a way better method to change minimum FW for games! see OP!


Unfortunately, it doesn't work with patches - they still force you to update.... they also have more digits in their XML for required firmware info... weird!

What if we find an update that works on 4.1 or lower, and copy the requiredfirmware digits line to exactly that instead of 0's ? Maybe the update would work? if hex patched?

For example, for a game title, If I patch to 201457664 instead of 000000000 it works fine, because this is the official version that is lower than my console.

 

[Zocker4444]

What if we find an update that works on 4.1 or lower, and copy the requiredfirmware digits line to exactly that instead of 0's ? Maybe the update would work? if hex patched?

For example, for a game title, If I patch to 201457664 instead of 000000000 it works fine, because this is the official version that is lower than my console.

That could be. It could also be, that the switch scans for a certain minimal number that has to be filled in. It could also be that there is another factor for the switch to scan for the minimum firmware needed. For now it's all speculation and thus trial and error...

 

[puppydg68]

That could be. It could also be, that the switch scans for a certain minimal number that has to be filled in. It could also be that there is another factor for the switch to scan for the minimum firmware needed. For now it's all speculation and thus trial and error...

Try this "773362548736" got this from an update for 1-2 switch that seems to run fine on 4.01

 

[Zocker4444]

Try this "773362548736"

why exactly that number? I need 13 digits for the updates.

Edit: I just checked the 1-2-switch update you mentioned.. it has 12 digits. so the number of digits increased for the higher updates? weird
Edit2: it seems that games that have 13 digits for minimal fw also have one digit more in the general version of the update/patch... that somehow seems connected