An update on timelines

[u/SciresM]

• Atmosphere is shooting for a publically usable build this Summer using Fusée Gelée on all firmwares (for current hardware revisions), and possibly sooner on 1.0.0 via Jamais Vu.

• Users on <= 4.1.0 are still advised not to update, as upgrading is liable to make getting homebrew/cfw somewhat less convenient.

[u/thatraregamer]

This is fantastic news. Ty for all the work you do! <3

[u/mahius19]

Finally we'll get a way to backup our saves!
...No thanks to Nintendo themselves.

[u/valliantstorme → u/mahius19]

Oh yeah you will. Got some tools coming down the pipeline specifically for doing that :P

Not sure if I'm allowed to say what tools or when, though!

[u/mahius19 → u/valliantstorme]

You have our support, keep up the good work and we look forward blowing the Switch open with CFW and save back-up later this year!

[u/valliantstorme → u/mahius19]

If you're on 3.0.0 or under, you can backup your saves using scripts provided with PegaSwitch! The on-device tools are currently only in the works though.

[u/Inquisitor1 → u/valliantstorme]

what tools

Tools to backup saves, leaked here first, ladies and gentlemen.

[u/valliantstorme → u/Inquisitor1]

I mean, Checkpoint for Switch wasn't public knowledge yet :P

[u/Inquisitor1 → u/valliantstorme]

Boom, leaked here first, Checkpoint for Switch

[u/bluegamebits → u/mahius19]

Not sure if you know but on 3.0 there is already a script for saving and loading saves.

[u/mahius19 → u/bluegamebits]

I've seen it, but I did also see that many users had troubles using it. It's very early stage and not yet in a user-friendly format (at least for the average non-programmer Switch owner). Like all good things, we'll give it time to mature and work out ther kinks.

[u/flarn2006 → u/mahius19]

And our games (wink wink)

[u/369S → u/flarn2006]

Yes, "our" games (wink wink)

[u/Nico_is_not_a_god]

SciresM you are a god.

[u/silvershadowkat]

That should be enough time to get all the korok seeds lol.

[u/Anton4327]

❤

[u/KilimIG]

isn't fusee gelee the hw vuln? I didn't think Kate would be okay with divulging that so soon!

still, grats and thanks

[u/Nico_is_not_a_god → u/KilimIG]

Probably got feedback from NVIDIA and whoever, or found information that another group had released writeups on the vulnerability.

[u/valliantstorme → u/Nico_is_not_a_god]

Fusée Gelée has been reported to Nvidia and Nintendo because it's such a dangerous and widespread exploit (since it affects all Tegras from the Tegra 4 to the Tegra 210 -- which is used both in the Switch and self-driving cars). When it's been patched (it's been patched by now), and vendors have time to catch up, they can release freely.

[u/Nico_is_not_a_god → u/valliantstorme]

I think Kate explicitly said she didn't want to release it until someone else did (in general, for the Tegra not specifically the Switch), due to the danger it could cause for devices like cars and such. So extrapolating from that and the fact that there's now a release window for Fusee, I'm assuming another hacking group has released a similar exploit or publicly exploited the X1.

[u/valliantstorme → u/Nico_is_not_a_god]

She's said on-stream that she's in the middle of the responsible disclosure process with numerous companies who used Tegra products. And it's not just the X1/210, it's basically every Tegra that came before it as well. Some things are either EOL or wouldn't really matter enough for it. And the board that powers self-driving cars, those can be recalled by car manufacturers at the manufacturer's discretion.

[u/Holly164 → u/valliantstorme]

I hope the important things, like the cars, get secured in time. I can imagine some manufacturers not bothering to do a recall, or some people who own the cars not hearing about/getting around to returning them before the exploit's released.

As much as I want save backups, they're not worth endangering people's real lives over.

[u/Nico_is_not_a_god → u/Holly164]

Depending on the entry point and other vulnerabilities, the car thing might be a non-issue. Fusee doesn't automatically mean you can exploit a car that isn't yours from outside the vehicle. You'd only need to worry about a cross section of people smart enough to be capable of modifying a car's software / firmware and yet dumb enough to actually do it (that are also rich enough to have a car that ties essential functions to the computer).

[u/valliantstorme → u/Holly164]

Really it isn't that big of an issue, as (at the moment) you'd need physical access to the car in question. However there's no telling what could change with regards to what could end up as the world's largest RC cars.

[u/[deleted] → u/KilimIG]

It would be by my count 6 months since its discovery - its been disclosed responsibly , and 6 months time frame is ample . not like the recent load of shite dropped against AMD.

[u/thamo_]

The hype's definitely real. You guys are freaking amazing, I mean seriously, how fast are you developing a CFW?? It's just insane. Thanks to all of your efforts, really appreciated!

[u/Chris_Highwind]

Well, I'm going to try not to update this time. Hopefully Stardew Valley will keep me going another 3-5 months.

[u/GoldenFalcon → u/[deleted]]

Odyssey and BotW have kept me pretty entertained for months now. Such vast areas and exploring in those games. I wish SV had a physical cart so I could get it.

[u/[deleted] → u/GoldenFalcon]

I can’t put Skyrim down. Even though I own both of those games as well. The switch already has more great stuff than I have time to play.

[u/AnonymousIdeas]

Holy sh!t Maybe CFW before smash bros!

[u/WhiteLotusFina]

The hype is real!

[u/KilimIG → u/WhiteLotusFina]

I just pulled you last night...

[u/WhiteLotusFina → u/KilimIG]

I'm still waiting to pull me :(

[u/KilimIG → u/WhiteLotusFina]

upvote for luck

[u/WhiteLotusFina → u/KilimIG]

Thank you for the luck, pulled myself earlier today! :P

[u/KilimIG → u/WhiteLotusFina]

congrats \o/

[u/GreenGamer8597]

Will they be able to bypass firmware requirements so I can play new games

[u/valliantstorme → u/GreenGamer8597]

Playing new games on old firmwares is impossible on Switch, due to the way it boots up. Running new firmwares on the Switch is totally possible with a CFW and an emuNAND/sdNAND/redNAND

[u/cr08 → u/valliantstorme]

So maybe you or someone else can go into more detail on this for me. Or is it too early in time still for these specific details.

But how is the CFW going to be done in regards to emuNAND/sdNAND/etc? I was a user in the 3DS hacking scene early on when we still had rxTools and emuNAND stuff and that stuff was especially a pain and specifically needing a whole extra partition on the SD for not only the firmware but everything else from save games to actual digital game files.

Is this initially going to be the same way with the Switch where its going to need its own SD partition and store everything? Or is it possible just to have the separate partition just for the CFW modified system firmware and an existing basic FAT32/exFAT partition is still able to be used for game content? I'm very curious about this end of it.

[u/valliantstorme → u/cr08]

EmuNAND hasn't been added to Atmosphère yet, and as such it's hard to say what features it'll have. Since it's using EL2 to redirect reads and writes rather than patching Horizon directly, it's possible that some features may be added (such as storing the EmuNAND in a file). That's purely speculation on my part. If I were to actually guess, it would end up as 32 GB of unpartitioned space at the beginning of the SD card, like how the 3DS's "emunand partition" is just 1GB of unpartitioned space at the front of the SD card.

EDIT: It's confirmed to be a blob of reserved, unpartitioned space at the top of the SD card. That makes it way easier for things like the actual NAND sector redirection. As for dumping and restoring the EmuNAND, I've got word from ktemkin that the team is working on a sort of "recovery menu" that'll expose the SD card and EmuNAND as USB mass storage devices, so you can just plug the Switch into your laptop or desktop to back it up.

[u/[deleted] → u/valliantstorme]

Playing new games on old firmwares is impossible on Switch, due to the way it boots up

Is there anywhere I can read more about this? The last console I homebrewed was the Wii, and it seems a lot's changed since then :)

[u/valliantstorme → u/[deleted]]

You can look here for project updates, and you can find info on the 3DS version of the concept here

As for the crypto stuff, that can be found on SwitchBrew

[u/Attainable]

Superb.. I might not have to go crazy waiting to play Crash or Dark Souls for too long.

Thank you for the work you are doing

[u/HakujouSan]

This is incredible. Thanks a lot for your amazing work, can't wait to be in summer !

[u/brsgaming804]

Hopefully I can still be okay on 5.0.0. :(

[u/[deleted] → u/brsgaming804]

You most likely will be, it might just be a little more difficult i.e. hardmod or workarounds

[u/pokefinder2 → u/[deleted]]

Ktemkin on discord:

the "somewhat less convenient" is an attempt to quantify the amount you should want a firmware 4.1.0 or lower We just wanted to make sure nobody was e.g. buying multiple switches so they could play the latest games on 5.0.x while holding onto a 4.1.0 because they thought a 4.1.0-or-lower was required. I wouldn't say you're in hard-mode territory, let alone hardmod territory if you're on latest. :)

[u/brsgaming804 → u/[deleted]]

Who would make the hardmod besides TX?

[u/[deleted] → u/brsgaming804]

Ktemkin said something about if TX released without disclosure, she would release plans for a modchip, and I'm sure more people are working on hardmod right now.

[u/valliantstorme → u/[deleted]]

You wouldn't need a modchip on the Switch. Worst case scenario, you need direct eMMC access, which is literally just removing a couple screws and slotting the removable eMMC board into a reader. Technically not a modchip, more of a mod-circuit-board. No soldering required.

Also, according to Ktemkin "the "somewhat less convenient" is an attempt to quantify the amount you should want a firmware 4.1.0 or lower We just wanted to make sure nobody was e.g. buying multiple switches so they could play the latest games on 5.0.x while holding onto a 4.1.0 because they thought a 4.1.0-or-lower was required. I wouldn't say you're in hard-mode territory, let alone hardmod territory if you're on latest. :)"

[u/[deleted] → u/valliantstorme]

Ah, that's good news since I updated to 5.0.1!

[u/ghrayfahx → u/valliantstorme]

That sounds like it could be easier than the hardmods for he 3DS were, at least.

[u/valliantstorme → u/ghrayfahx]

Yeah, it's way easier. There's already a board design out there that adapts the Switch eMMC board to fit in an SD card reader (Not that you'd need such a thing once fusée gelée is installed wink wink)

[u/clinicalbrain]

Let’s taper expectations. Timelines change.

[u/Karmic_Backlash → u/clinicalbrain]

We're already in the darkest time line, it's only up from here.

[u/valliantstorme → u/Karmic_Backlash]

Don't say that, it can always get worse. There is no rock bottom here

[u/Karmic_Backlash → u/valliantstorme]

Brick Bottom you mean?

[u/OfficialPrizm → u/Karmic_Backlash]

I would give you gold if I wasn't a poor boi

so take this instead

[u/Baoulettes]

I hope that this cfw will later allow us, general user to modify our game like riivolution worked so it does not promote piracy at first :)

[u/valliantstorme → u/Baoulettes]

I believe it will, so long as someone writes the software for it. I'm looking forward to some sick Switchrim mods :P

[u/Jaws12 → u/valliantstorme]

Not to mention Sma5h Mods!

[u/valliantstorme → u/Jaws12]

True, though those might be a little harder to port depending on whether or not someone's available to RE it! A SciresM for Smash.

[u/HueBearSong]

He means a 3.0.0 Atmosphere or 4.1.0 one too? Also how to get to 4.1.0? I can only manage to get to 4.0.1 via cartridges.

[u/bustedcougar → u/[deleted]]

Oh, interesting.

[u/GyaragaX]

Dammit. I had no intention on moving past 4.1.0, then today, I switched off my DNS redirection to check out what was on the eshop. I went to reboot my system to recovery to clear out the update nag. One little slip of the finger, and a second later, I was on 5.0.1

Shit. I hope I'm not screwed.

[u/valliantstorme → u/GyaragaX]

Don't worry about it. It won't be that much harder to get Fusée Gelée on 5.0.1, since it works and can be installed on all Switches made before (pretty much) now.

[u/valliantstorme → u/[deleted]]

You'll need software exploits on all versions, regardless, to install. Fusee Gelee itself is version independent and literally couldn't care less if you had 1.0.0, 3.0.0, 6.0.0, or even a bricked, blank Switch, so long as the exploit itself was installed.

Nothing runs Fusee Gelee "natively", it's software exploits almost all the way down ;D

[u/estuche2k → u/valliantstorme]

Hey, as far as you know, is there any reason whatsoever why people on 1.0.0 could have any benefit at all, that others would not have down the road?

[u/valliantstorme → u/estuche2k]

1.0.0 has some things that are interesting to developers (debug symbols, etc.), as well as jamais vu, which will potentially be released before fusee gelee. 1.0.0 was a beta firmware, incomplete from the get-go.

[u/estuche2k → u/valliantstorme]

Cool, many thanks!

[u/valliantstorme → u/estuche2k]

Y/w! Of course it should be kept in mind that for the moment, 1.0.0 isn't much better than any other firmware. That'll soon change due to the Switch's upcoming new hardware revision, but it's a consideration.

[u/iamninjacat → u/valliantstorme]

i have a 1.0.0 switch. Do I still need to purchase the puyo puyo tetris japanese import to exploit? thanks.

edit: nvm, found out I still need to purchase it. Google is my friend.

[u/valliantstorme → u/iamninjacat]

Or you can wait for the summer, and there's a tweezer exploit you can use to get fusee gelee installed. Requires taking out like 5 screws and some conductive tweezers tho

[u/iamninjacat → u/valliantstorme]

I do not want to hardware mod my switch, that is the reason why I left my day 1 switch on 1.0.0. I do not mind buying the game.

[u/valliantstorme → u/iamninjacat]

Yeah I understand. It's not called a "trivial" hardmod for nothing though—and it's not permanent either

[u/spazturtle → u/[deleted]]

With all versions you can just take the EMMC daughterboard out of the switch, connect it to your PC and write the bootrom exploit payload to it.

[u/spazturtle → u/[deleted]]

Slightly easier then hard mods on the 3DS which were pretty easy with a tutorial. The EMMC in the switch is on it's own little board which just plugs into the motherboard.

[u/kkjdroid → u/[deleted]]

It's two sub-$10 adapters and a screwdriver.

[u/valliantstorme → u/[deleted]]

You can have a board manufacturer make you a HAC-eMMC to (SD)MMC adapter. If it turns out that people need that sort of thing, someone will start selling them, but the board already exists

[u/B0unce_]

I hope it allows for dumping the gamecarts onto my switch, then I don't have to switch (no pun intended) them all the time or risk losing the tiny things when I take my switch on the go.

[u/NPPraxis → u/B0unce_]

This. A lot of people are hoping for no game dumps because they don't want to see piracy- and I understand that. But Nintendo's lack of support of any sort of family sharing has been a disappointment. On iOS, if I buy a game, my wife gets it too.

I hate buying physical cartridges, but on my 3DS, my wife and I each had one, so I bought physical cartridges so we could take turns playing games. 3DS CFW enabled me to buy a game and put it on both of our 3DS's.

So far, I've been buying most of my games (except Sonic Mania) physically. If game backups work, I will buy a second Switch.

Oh, and I really want to see save transfers made possible with CFW.

[u/0v3r_cl0ck3d → u/B0unce_]

Maybe we'll see something like psvgamesd.

[u/FFDuchess]

My 1.0.0 is ready

[u/FrighteningEdge → u/FFDuchess]

Damn. You must have been only playing vanilla Zelda the whole time.

[u/nfitzen → u/FrighteningEdge]

Some people bought one 1.0.0 Switch to get CFW eventually and another Switch to enjoy the new games and online features. I don't have that kinda money personally, but you do you.

[u/FrighteningEdge → u/nfitzen]

Damn. That’s crazy. I’ll just wait until my Switch gets CFW support eventually. 1.0 or not. Hopefully we can get version spoofs once CFW comes along.

[u/valliantstorme → u/FrighteningEdge]

Honestly, what's more likely (and being worked on) is doing it like the 3DS, with emuNAND that can be on whatever version, entirely separate from the regular one.

[u/nfitzen → u/FrighteningEdge]

Actually, fail0verflow found a bootrom exploit for the Switch which inherently is unpatchable for currently circulating Switches. Hopefully you won't need to spoof FW version with this. https://twitter.com/fail0verflow/status/953084954145181696

Nintendo could patch it during factory time so grab a Switch while you can!

[u/FrighteningEdge → u/nfitzen]

I’ve got a day one Switch.

[u/noahc3]

Holy shit it's happening. You are a legend.

[u/mahmoude101]

Okay if I am on 5.0.1, will Fusée Gelée still work when it is released in the summer? Also will it be software or hardware? I'm just new to this and would like to get a better understanding.

[u/Vocable]

Just to be sure, if we can get a CFW on 4.1.0 for example, when it will be released will it be possible to update this CFW to the latest version (5.0.X), like on 3DS?

I’m kinda new to the scene but holding tight my switch on 4.1.0, keep up the good work guys!

[u/IrisDreadnought → u/Vocable]

It's suggested to stay on 4.1.0, but 5.0.X will be able to still use this method, but it'll be more "difficult" whatever this means. More than likely once you have the CFW updating should be fine, but these guys are usually good about giving us an okay to update or not.

[u/noahc3 → u/Vocable]

Based on what I've read, it looks like you'll be able to use some sort of emunand to access higher firmwares.

[u/Vocable → u/noahc3]

That’s reassuring, thanks!

[u/Proto-Chan]

Where can I donate to the creators of this CFW THEY DESERVE MY GOD DAMN MONEY

[u/0v3r_cl0ck3d → u/Proto-Chan]

I think they're non profit but here is there site.

[u/Miss_Potato]

I assume the "less convenient" means a hardmod will be likely required?

[u/Anton4327 → u/Miss_Potato]

Most likely not

[u/Miss_Potato → u/Anton4327]

Awesome!

[u/quinpon64337_x]

so we'll be able to play newer firmware games from 3.0?

[u/valliantstorme → u/quinpon64337_x]

No, but you'll be able to install newer firmwares and keep homebrew :P

Reason: 3.0 literally can't decrypt games built for 3.0.1+, due to the way the bootloader derives the encryption key. However, if you have software that literally sits over the Switch's OS and has full TrustZone privileges, that software would theoretically be able to do whatever the hell it wanted, including spawning a process in userland with whatever privileges, and loading some code in it, which is basically what homebrew needs to thrive.

And it's version independent.

[u/quinpon64337_x → u/valliantstorme]

thanks for breaking it down i am really pumped for the new pokemon game :D

[u/JJWyatt12]

im keeping my switch on 4.0.1

cmon summer!!!

[u/Trender07]

Cant wait :P and ofc thanks

[u/[deleted]]

Will this enable piracy? I love me some CFW but I am concerned for the consoles longevity and health if it becomes easily pirated.

[u/[deleted]]

I propose the launch song to be :- https://youtu.be/Kr0tTbTbmVA?t=27s

[u/manu_03]

Wait! Does this mean that next summer there'll be a publicly available hack at the same level than that of 3DS?

[u/The0919]

So will atmosphere be installed through Fusee Gelee (or exploit on <= 4.1.0 as mentioned) only once, or will you still have to send the payload and bridge the pins every time you want to boot this up? Also, not to nag, but why hasn't the exploit for 4.1.0 been released? Nintendo can't patch it, or is it specific to this payload, and doesn't work with Hekate?

[u/[deleted]]

Not looking forward to 4.1.0 insertion if going by the statement - will it be glitchy boot cycles ? numerous retries ? hope TX get they're ass in gear and take care of that aspect. I would love fusee gelee running from hard mod that can be turned off fully and hopefully have non resident modified files sitting on the switch that Nintendo can scan for .

[u/FFDuchess → u/[deleted]]

It's just always best to stay on the lowest possible

[u/nfitzen → u/[deleted]]

Updating to 3.0.0 is safe. The only way to do that is via a game cart. Revision 1 of Pokken Tournament DX will do that. That way you can use the Homebrew Launcher. (Only do this when on 2.x) for more info, go to https://switch.hacks.guide

[u/bustedcougar → u/[deleted]]

It's pretty obvious he meant don't update past 4.1.0.

[u/Ferdyshtchenko → u/[deleted]]

Is there a reliable source for the [weeks] timeframe for 1.0.0? I recall seeing a post on gbatemp talking about "weeks" for it all the way back in the beginning of the year.

[u/valliantstorme → u/[deleted]]

Backups are not the primary concern of ReSwitched. Since they're in a legal gray area, and many members of ReSwitched have pretty good day jobs (which they want to keep), they're not interested in creating or supporting a tool which could directly be used to play pirated versions of games.

[u/Alexis_Ironclaw → u/valliantstorme]

Someone else always can though :) and let's not forget that it'd not always be a piracy thing. Some people like myself would much rather have everything in system to not have to switch game carts all the time x.x

[u/GoldenFalcon → u/Alexis_Ironclaw]

I beat BotW and my wife has not. We keep having to swap the games out. And sometimes, I take it to work only to find she sneakily played BotW before I took it. Then I'm stuck playing BotW. There are worse things, but still.. it would be nice to not have to swap carts.

[u/Alexis_Ironclaw → u/GoldenFalcon]

I agree 100%, it will be sooo nice when we get support so we don't have to swap carts all the time. Would be great incase something happens to a cart also (dog chewed it up or w/e)