Modder says Nintendo Switch 2 was jailbroken using an old game and AI

In short: A modder says they “jailbroke” the Nintendo Switch 2 using an older game and help from an AI coding tool.

What happened

A modder who goes by “pepsipu” says they found a way to jailbreak the Nintendo Switch 2. A jailbreak is a way to bypass a device’s normal limits, like getting a locked door to open so you can enter rooms the maker did not intend you to access.

In a demo, the modder showed the Switch 2 running a custom version of Mario Kart World. The video and screenshots show unusual playable characters added to the game, including Cinnamoroll, the red Angry Bird, Peter Griffin, and Steve from Minecraft.

Pepsipu says OpenAI’s Codex helped with the work. Codex is an AI tool that can help write and edit computer code (similar to an autocomplete that can fill in whole chunks of instructions).

The jailbreak is described as “software-only” and “tethered.” In simple terms, it does not require opening the console, but it also does not stay active permanently. The modder says you have to trigger it through a game each time you restart the system.

The method reportedly relies on SmileBASIC 4, a game that lets players write their own small programs. Another modder has suggested the game may not be strictly required.

Why it matters

If this technique is real and can be repeated, it could lead to more Switch 2 mods and experiments. It could also raise concerns for Nintendo about cheating and piracy, since the same “unlocked door” can be used for harmless custom content or for copying games without paying.

Source: The Verge AI