Hackers Uncover Nintendo Switch 2 Exploit Just One Day After Launch — Minor Hack Enables Custom Code Execution on OS

I caught wind of this wild thing happening in the gaming world. So check this out: some folks already found a loophole in the new Nintendo Switch 2. Who’d have thought, right? It’s kind of a head-scratcher how fast these things happen. Anyway, there’s this user on Bluesky, David Buchanan — sort of like the explorer of our story — who dug into the console’s shared library. Sounds like a hidden nook in a massive library, doesn’t it?

So, here’s what he did. Buchanan found this vulnerability, it’s called a userland Return-Oriented Programming exploit. Sounds fancy, huh? Basically, he can mess around with a program by tweaking its return address, making it do unexpected things. Imagine pressing a button, expecting a sneeze from your computer, but instead, it starts tap dancing — that’s kind of what it does, showing off some custom checkerboard graphics. Anyway, I’m rambling.

There’s a picture floating around, with all these different versions, like the Mona Lisa through different camera lenses. Why do they do this? Beats me. But it’s there. Take a look if you get curious — David Buchanan on Bluesky, or something like that.

Now, here’s where it gets less dramatic. This exploit is just skimming the surface — user level only, not going deep down to the Switch 2’s core (like its soul or whatever). No superpowers here, it won’t let you hack into the kernel or give you free reign to rule the Switch universe. Buchanan even mentioned there’s no real-world practicality — maybe it’s just a flex? He can’t even prove he’s playing with an exploit rather than just watching a YouTube vid. Classic head-scratcher.

Nintendo being Nintendo, with their iron-clad grip on their stuff, won’t be thrilled about this. They’ve got a fierce rep for protecting their creations. Legend has it they might even brick your console if you mess their sacred software. The agreement for using the Switch 2 flat-out says not to tinker with their stuff. Seriously, they mean it.

I guess since the Switch 2 is still brand-spanking new, it might take — who knows — weeks, months, or even years before someone cracks it open like a digital piñata. But imagine when that day comes (cue dramatic music), and we see a homemade OS? Oof, Nintendo’s reaction would be something to see, wouldn’t it?

By the way, if you’re into this kind of thing, Tom’s Hardware is the place to follow. Not a plug or anything, but they do have juicy updates, like this one. Just hit that follow button on Google News, and you’ll never miss a beat.