First Nintendo Switch 2 Jailbreak Exploit Discovered
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been jailbroken through a software-only exploit dubbed ’ns2jb,’ created by modder Sammy ‘pepsipu’ Hajhamid with assistance from OpenAI’s Codex. The jailbreak was demonstrated through a modified version of Mario Kart World featuring characters from various franchises, including Cinnamoroll, Peter Griffin, Hatsune Miku, Angry Birds, and Steve from Minecraft.
The exploit is a tethered jailbreak, meaning it requires users to run it from SmileBASIC 4—a programming software available on the eShop—each time the console is turned on. This dependency on an existing legitimate game title provided the entry point for the exploit. In response to the discovery, Nintendo has delisted SmileBASIC 4 from the eShop, likely to prevent users from easily accessing the tool needed for the jailbreak.
This development continues a recent pattern of major gaming consoles being successfully jailbroken, following similar exploits discovered on the PS5. While the vulnerability is expected to be patched by Nintendo in a future system update, the discovery highlights the ongoing security challenges console manufacturers face and the creative ways modders leverage AI tools to circumvent protections.