Will Switch 2 be backported to Switch

[SuffahBish]

On what planet are Switch 2 prices absurd?

It's $450. A 256gb steam deck at launch was $699. ROG Ally's and similar handheld PCs are $900+.

Post automatically merged: Jun 9, 2025

On what planet are Switch 2 prices absurd?

It's $450. A 256gb steam deck at launch was $699. ROG Ally's and similar handheld PCs are $900+.

Are you Canadian? The 256GB Deck was like $529ish on launch. I know because I bought one.

 

[Skelletonike]

Are you Canadian? The 256GB Deck was like $529ish on launch. I know because I bought one.

In EU, the Steam Deck launch prices were:

419€ (64GB), 549€ (256GB) and 679€ (512GB).

The Switch 2 launch price (without game) was 469€.

If you only look at the version with the same storage, the Switch 2 is cheaper than a Steam Deck was on launch (I paid 679€ for the 512GB on launch). If you take inflation into consideration, the Steam Deck was even more expensive than it already seems.

 

[gamer765]

There's a closed team back porting HOS2 to Switch 1 and they're 70% of the way there. Issues remaining are overcoming the OS seeing different hardware than it expects, missing chipset features and writing a compatibility layer to get around it, they have switch 1 retail games booting 90% of the time, still need to work on the HOS2 translation layer. Switch 2 games boot, but crash once the software requests a chipset feature that isn't available.

 

[SuffahBish]

In EU, the Steam Deck launch prices were:

419€ (64GB), 549€ (256GB) and 679€ (512GB).

The Switch 2 launch price (without game) was 469€.

If you only look at the version with the same storage, the Switch 2 is cheaper than a Steam Deck was on launch (I paid 679€ for the 512GB on launch). If you take inflation into consideration, the Steam Deck was even more expensive than it already seems.

In the USA the base Deck was $399 and the 256GB model was $529. The Switch 2 is $449.

 

[Skelletonike]

In the USA the base Deck was $399 and the 256GB model was $529. The Switch 2 is $449.

That's still more expensive than the Switch 2, which was the point.

 

[lordofcombo]

Are you high OP? theres no switch 2 homebrews.

 

[SecureBoot]

There's a closed team back porting HOS2 to Switch 1 and they're 70% of the way there. Issues remaining are overcoming the OS seeing different hardware than it expects, missing chipset features and writing a compatibility layer to get around it, they have switch 1 retail games booting 90% of the time, still need to work on the HOS2 translation layer. Switch 2 games boot, but crash once the software requests a chipset feature that isn't available.

What is this bait?

 

[namename11]

Maybe some of the improvements such as higher quality textures, music, etc. could be backported to Switch 1 from a Switch 2 edition, but likely only to units with 8GB RAM, very high speedos, and an upgraded eMMC module. So I don't think most people would be able to take advantage of it.

As for Switch 2-only games, even 100MB games on Switch somehow occupy all 3GB of available RAM, so I don't see how any Switch 2 game could be expected to work as they expect 9GB of available RAM.

 

[SuffahBish]

That's still more expensive than the Switch 2, which was the point.

I'm pretty sure $399 is cheaper than $449 but even comparing the same storage sizes it's worth paying an extra $80 (What is that one Mario Kart?) for what is a handheld PC you can run whatever you want on vs a console you need to wait for a hack to do so.

I don't have a Switch 2 and probably won't until they release a cheaper handheld only Lite model. And that's only if it's like $300ish max.

 

[ChibiMofo]

I'm pretty sure $399 is cheaper than $449 but even comparing the same storage sizes it's worth paying an extra $80 (What is that one Mario Kart?) for what is a handheld PC you can run whatever you want on vs a console you need to wait for a hack to do so.

I don't have a Switch 2 and probably won't until they release a cheaper handheld only Lite model. And that's only if it's like $300ish max.

That $399 adjusted for inflation is $459 now. I can play anything I want on my PC. If I want to play Switch 2 games, I have one choice. The Steamdeck, even if it was in stock, is an underpowered PC that can't run anything a thousand other devices can (and much better). The Switch 2 can run all Switch 1 games without issue (actually the vast majority run far better), plus Switch 2 exclusives and Switch 1 games with S2 patches.

There's no comparison even at the same price. Which is why 150 million Switch 1s sold and 20 million Switch 2s and a mere 5.7 million of the Steamdeck have sold. Again, there's no comparison.

Post automatically merged: Apr 6, 2026

There's a closed team back porting HOS2 to Switch 1 and they're 70% of the way there. Issues remaining are overcoming the OS seeing different hardware than it expects, missing chipset features and writing a compatibility layer to get around it, they have switch 1 retail games booting 90% of the time, still need to work on the HOS2 translation layer. Switch 2 games boot, but crash once the software requests a chipset feature that isn't available.

I really love it when a teenager on GBATemp starts a ludicrous rumor that involves hackers having already not only cracked the Switch 2, decrypted the games, but now backporting its Ubersecure™ OS back to the Switch for absolutely no reason. Dude should be banned from posting.

 

[FernandoRocker]

There's a closed team back porting HOS2 to Switch 1 and they're 70% of the way there. Issues remaining are overcoming the OS seeing different hardware than it expects, missing chipset features and writing a compatibility layer to get around it, they have switch 1 retail games booting 90% of the time, still need to work on the HOS2 translation layer. Switch 2 games boot, but crash once the software requests a chipset feature that isn't available.

Source: My ass.

 

[Marc_LFD]

Crazy that some people want the Switch 2 hacked and yet there's nothing much to play on it, as far as exclusives go.

Anyway, this thread is just silly and illogical.

 

[hippy dave]

There's a closed team back porting HOS2 to Switch 1 and they're 70% of the way there. Issues remaining are overcoming the OS seeing different hardware than it expects, missing chipset features and writing a compatibility layer to get around it, they have switch 1 retail games booting 90% of the time, still need to work on the HOS2 translation layer. Switch 2 games boot, but crash once the software requests a chipset feature that isn't available.

You're like 5 days late

 

[lotuseater]

Crazy that some people want the Switch 2 hacked and yet there's nothing much to play on it, as far as exclusives go.

Anyway, this thread is just silly and illogical.

The reasoning for wanting to hack the Switch 2 so bad is because Nintendo claims it's completely unhackable. I think any actual estimations on when/if a hack will release are totally bogus either way... but it's sort of made me realize the Switch 2 doesn't have a lot going for it content wise. I will say some kind of hack randomly being found via an unexpected/stupid method would be really funny, and I hope it happens.

 

[AshWeststar]

The reasoning for wanting to hack the Switch 2 so bad is because Nintendo claims it's completely unhackable.

I would appreciate it if you could share the source of this claim.

 

[lotuseater]

I would appreciate it if you could share the source of this claim.

My use of "claimed" was incorrect. The idea is more or less a combination of everything Nintendo has announced regarding the Switch 2's security. Like the new terms and conditions of the console + the hardware being highly sensitive to any form of modification (except that one userland exploit they found going on a year ago). It's just a very "not this time" sort of attitude, and it's sending a message at the least. But yes, you're right, Nintendo did not claim anything. My bad.

 

[Maq47]

There's a closed team back porting HOS2 to Switch 1 and they're 70% of the way there. Issues remaining are overcoming the OS seeing different hardware than it expects, missing chipset features and writing a compatibility layer to get around it, they have switch 1 retail games booting 90% of the time, still need to work on the HOS2 translation layer. Switch 2 games boot, but crash once the software requests a chipset feature that isn't available.

Okay, considering how helpful you generally are and knowledgeable about tech lingo you appear to be, I have about 70% faith in your honesty, and outside of your 3 messages on this topic you have given me zero reason not to trust you. So unlike most people here I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Considering that there has been a TON of time since the Switch 2's release to use clean room reverse engineering to achieve the level of compatibility you're claiming, I believe it is feasible that a team is working under the radar to avoid Ninty taking down the project, and has made this much progress in about a year.

The problem is that you're getting your information from an undisclosed source and providing not enough information to determine with certainty that the 'devs' aren't just making up progress that doesn't exist because they hit a wall and want to save face, especially since you said a year ago that you were on the beta test team, but made no indication of this in this message, and as such moreso indicated to the contrary, that you aren't currently beta testing, and are just getting news from the dev team somehow. Clarification in this case is much needed to verify the validity of the dev team's claims, and by extension, yours. I am not going to be like others and claim you are spreading disinformation or false rumors, because considering the facts, it is likely that you're being honest.

 

[M7L7NK7]

It's not true lol

 

[AshWeststar]

My use of "claimed" was incorrect.

No worries! I was just surprised because this was the first time I was hearing about Nintendo gloating about it, and I was intrigued. I hadn't observed anything that has particularly energised me in one direction or another from Nintendo.

new terms and conditions of the console

I believe it was a change to the agreement for using their services, and includes even Switch 1. The agreement only applies to using their service, and they can terminate your access to it. Hacking the Switch or Switch 2 doesn't typically grant you access to the service after they've terminated your access to it. So I don't think it makes a good motivation, since the way you get banned is typically by hacking, modding, homebrew, or piracy to begin with.

the hardware being highly sensitive to any form of modification (except that one userland exploit they found going on a year ago). It's just a very "not this time" sort of attitude, and it's sending a message at the least.

I think what you're describing relates to this comment, which was discredited. As far as I'm aware, there is no added 'sensitivity' for modifications to the console itself, just improved designs to make it more difficult to attack.

Nintendo, from what I've seen, has been relatively boring on the matter and has really just not said anything.

 

[lotuseater]

No worries! I was just surprised because this was the first time I was hearing about Nintendo gloating about it, and I was intrigued. I hadn't observed anything that has particularly energised me in one direction or another from Nintendo.



I believe it was a change to the agreement for using their services, and includes even Switch 1. The agreement only applies to using their service, and they can terminate your access to it. Hacking the Switch or Switch 2 doesn't typically grant you access to the service after they've terminated your access to it. So I don't think it makes a good motivation, since the way you get banned is typically by hacking, modding, homebrew, or piracy to begin with.



I think what you're describing relates to this comment, which was discredited. As far as I'm aware, there is no added 'sensitivity' for modifications to the console itself, just improved designs to make it more difficult to attack.

Nintendo, from what I've seen, has been relatively boring on the matter and has really just not said anything.

Yes, that's most likely the case. I was initially referring to the Reddit post about slight increases in voltage setting it off, but the thread you linked seems to be even less credible. I think the amount of rumors floating around has made most people pretty paranoid about doing anything. Maybe a millionaire can purchase a hundred Switch 2s and we can trial-and-error our way into a hack