Nintendo Switch ‘unfixable exploit’ opens door to piracy

A hardware exploit has been discovered on Nintendo’s all-in-one Switch console that allows hackers to pirate games.

The loophole, known as Fusee Gelee and discovered by developer Kate Temkin, originates from the console’s Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, Tech Crunch reports. This enables hackers to “inject code into the system and modify it however they choose”.

Fusee Gelee opens the door for skilled coders to create their own games - commonly referred to as homebrews - emulate older games not available on the Switch, and pirate existing titles, the tech site says. 

Crucially, the exploit is “unfixable” and cannot be rectified through a software update, because the vulnerability centres around a core piece of hardware that can’t be upgraded once it leaves the production line, says Alphr.   

That means the 14.8 million Nintendo Switches in circulation can be hacked to “run a whole manner of different games and programmes”,  the tech news site notes.

The loophole doesn’t expose the Switch to any security risks, according to Bleeping Computer, as a hacker needs to physically handle the console to inject the necessary code to gain access. 

Nintendo’s options for handling the issue are limited, although Ars Technica says the Japanese games giant may “ban” modified systems from accessing the console’s online functions. 

The company implemented a similar procedure in 2016 when it detected pirated copies of Pokemon Sun and Moon on Nintendo 3DS handheld consoles, the site says.