Tutorial
Updated
Play .NSP Games for higher Firmware on lower Firmware (ReiNX, Hactool,Tinfoil + extracted NSP)
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!)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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!
___________________________________________________________________________
Get the newest Tinfoil by Adubbz here: Click!
Added old Tinfoil build. Works for me but no updates allowed!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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!
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!)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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!
___________________________________________________________________________
Get the newest Tinfoil by Adubbz here: Click!
Added old Tinfoil build. Works for me but no updates allowed!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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!
Last edited by Zocker4444,
