Esoteric Devices Wiki

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====== Nintendo Switch ======

Nintendo's most recent console, and one of their best performing ones. Releasing on March 3rd, 2017 across much of the world, the Nintendo Switch may not be very powerful with hardware, but it's "hybrid" gimmick of being both a portable and home console has made it a sales winner. In hardware, the Switch contains a 1280x720 capacitive touchscreen, 32 (or 64 on OLED) GB of internal memory, 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and 4 ARM Cortex cores within it's Nvidia Tegra X1 system on a chip. Of course, these specifications are certainly still capable of running a lot, which is why it has already sold 107 million units (figure dating to March 2022) despite being in "the middle" of it's life cycle (according to Nintendo).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Switch

===== Operating Systems (ARM Cortex-A57/53) =====

=== Console emulation (potential) ===

Whether these emulators support operating systems for these consoles is unknown; it must be looked into further. Consoles without meaningful OSes are not included.

https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Emulators_on_Switch

3DO Comp. 3DO – retroarch

Atari 2600 – retroarch

Atari Lynx - retroarch

Bandai WonderSwan (Color) - retroarch

Megazeux GCS – Megazeux git (has CHIP-8!)

https://github.com/AliceLR/megazeux https://www.digitalmzx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9709

NEC TurboGrafx-16 - retroarch

Nintendo 3DS – Citra POC

Nintendo 64 – retroarch, GlideN64 3.0

Nintendo DS – retroarches, DeSmuME-NX git, melonDS git, NooDS git

Nintendo Game Boy (Color) – retroarch (Gambatte, Gearboy, TGB Dual), khedgb 7, mGBA, Pluto

Nintendo Game Boy Advance – retroarch (mGBA, VBA next), mGBA 0.8.4, VBA-Next git

Nintendo Entertainment System – retroarch (FCEUmm, Nestopia, QuickNES), LaiNES git, pNES

Super Nintendo Entertainment System – retroarches, pSNES git, snes9x next

Nintendo Pokémon Mini - retroarch

Nintendo Virtual Boy – mednafen, retroarch

Sega Dreamcast – retroarch, Reicast alpha

Sega Genesis – retroarch (Genesis Plus GX, PicoDrive)

Sega Master System – retroarch (GearSystem, Genesis Plus GX, PicoDrive)

Sega Saturn – retroarch, Yaba Sanshiro 2.2.0

Sony PlayStation 1 – retroarch, PCSX-ReARMed git

Sony PlayStation Portable – retroarch, PPSSPP 1.9.3+



=== Debian sid (Fedora bootstrap) ===

Not highly focused port, but it is possible.

https://fluxcoil.net/wiki/software/switch/debian


=== Emulation Nest ===

This device runs an operating system which is known to emulate various devices with EOPs. See the  [[eop:operating_systems:conventional:amigaos|AmigaOS]],  [[eop:operating_systems:conventional:dos|DOS]], [[eop:computing:computers:msxes|MSX]], [[eop:computing:computers:nec_pc-9801_series|NEC PC-9801 series]], and [[eop:computing:computers:sharp_x68000_series|SHARP x68000 series]] pages.



=== Fedora 28-32 ===

L4T Ubuntu bootstrapped port.

https://fluxcoil.net/wiki/hardwarerelated/nintendo_switch#installing_fedora_32



=== L4T Ubuntu ===

>L4T Ubuntu is a version of Linux based on nvidia's linux for tegra project

This appears to be the premier linux distribution for the Switch, being tailored for the console.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/l4t-ubuntu-a-fully-featured-linux-on-your-switch.537301/



=== LineageOS/Android 8.1 or 10 ===

Android 10 port is the most recent of the two, obviously. 8.1 is listed for posterity.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/rom-unofficial-8-1-switchroot-lineageos-15-1.3951389/

https://www.xda-developers.com/lineageos-17-1-nintendo-switch-android-tv-10-joy-con-support/



=== Linux (base kernel) ===

Not much to say about this, but there is a 4.1 exploit, and a 4.9 nvidia based fork.

https://fail0verflow.com/blog/2018/shofel2/

https://github.com/natinusala/painless-linux

https://github.com/SoulCipher/shofel2_linux



=== NX-Shell ===

>a multi-purpose file manager

Not really an OS, but still provides a certain functionality not seen in the stock OS.

https://github.com/joel16/NX-Shell/tree/next



=== OpenSUSE ===

Does not appear to be a bootstrap, but has similar support as Debian.

https://fluxcoil.net/wiki/software/switch/opensuse



=== PC emulation (potential) ===

Whether these emulators support operating systems for these computers is unknown; it must be looked into further. Computers without meaningful OSes are not included.

https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Emulators_on_Switch

Amstrad CPCs – retroarch (Caprice, CrocoDS)

Atari 8-bits – Atari800-switch git

CHIP-8 – CHIP8-NX git

Commodore 64 – retroarch

Commodore Amigas – retroarch, UAE4All2 git

MSXs – retroarch

NEC PC-9801s - retroarch

Palm OS - retroarch

Sharp X68000s - retroarch

Sinclair ZX Spectrums – retroarch

x86 – retroarch, Bochs git, DOSBox-switch git



=== postmarketOS ===

>They ported the mainline 4.16 kernel to the Switch

Based off the aforementioned 4.1 kernel by f0. Certain things are functional, while others are not. It’s probably not the best of the distributions available, but it’s still available.

[[https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Nintendo_Switch_(nintendo-nx)]]



=== Stock OS ===

This doesn’t need demonstration. Very simple, but an interesting code achievement.



=== Ubuntu (non L4T) ===

Made pointless by the updated L4T-based distribution, but is worth listing anyway.

https://github.com/cmsj/nintendo-switch-ubuntu-builder



=== Windows 10 ARM ===

This may be only available to Microsoft employees, so they need to have something "revealed".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyjPGOj0tiQ



===== Internet =====

=== BrowseNX launcher ===

>simply opens up the fully enabled web browser

Uses the exact same browser as above, but unlocks functionality and convenience.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/browsenx-web-browser-launcher-source.529438/



=== DNS trick to access stock browser ===

A classic trick, used to access a barebones browser on several systems.

https://switchbrew.org/wiki/Internet_Browser

https://www.imore.com/how-use-hidden-web-browser-nintendo-switch

===== Other =====

=== KORG Gadget ===

>Plentiful instrumental gadgets combined with a simple and intuitive graphical interface

Another release in the great line of KORG's synths on game consoles. Here, a large variety of synths, modes, and features are available to the user, ultimately creating possibly the best KORG release on game systems yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpcvtCqwQw8

https://www.korg.com/us/products/software/korg_gadget_for_nintendo_switch/


===== Version & Revision Guide =====

For general information, see the [[eop:essays:game_console_revisions_overview|Game Console Revisions Overview]].

==== Versions ====

//There are three versions of this console, arranged chronologically.//



=== “Switch (original)” (2017-2021?) ===
//RECOMMENDED OVERALL (get a V1 revision for EOPs)//

The original Switch, and thus far, the only Switch that can be conceivably hacked without significant difficulty. Earlier revisions of this system (HAC-001) are hackable without a modchip, while later revisions of this system (HAC-001(-01)) are unhackable without a modchip. In other features, this Switch, being the original model, has the usual setup of a non-OLED 6.2" screen, 32 GB of internal memory, and so on. Usual Switch functions.



=== “Switch Lite” (2019-present) ===
//LOWEST PRICE//

A Switch that has been shrunken down and turned into a portable-only system. Obviously, many changes come with this change in form factor, including the lack of detachable joycons, the inability to dock, a smaller screen and general form factor, and a longer battery life despite the lower capacity. Of course, like later revision "Classic" Switches, the Lite is unhackable without a modchip.



=== “Switch (OLED)” (2021-present) ===
//RECOMMENDED OVERALL (just for gaming)//

Touted as a hardware upgrade, the OLED Switch barely qualifies as a proper “version” instead of a revision. It's primary feature, as stated in the name, is the inclusion of an OLED screen, which is also a bit larger than the original model. Alongside this, the OLED Switch has 64 GB instead of 32 GB internal memory, a better kickstand, better speakers, and an improved dock that has a LAN port. Otherwise, functions are the same including the inability to hack without a modchip.


==== Revisions ====

//There are two revisions within the Switch (original).//


=== Switch (original) revisions: ===

=== “Switch V1 (HAC-001)” (2017-2019) ===

//RECOMMENDED OVERALL (for if you want EOPs!)//

Otherwise known as Switches that are "unpatched". In the realm of raw features, the HAC-001 only differs from the 001(-01) in it's battery life, which is of a slightly lower capacity. However, when it comes to EOPs, the -001 is drastically different in that it is the only Switch model that has the potential to be hacked without a modchip. For more information, simply check https://ismyswitchpatched.com/ - determining if a system is patched usually requires only a serial number.
=== “Switch V2 (HAC-001(-01))” (2019-2021?) ===

Otherwise known as "patched" Switches. In hardware features, the HAC-001(-01) has a higher capacity battery than it's revision predecessor. However, as already stated in the previous entry, this revision cannot be hacked in any way (as of 2022) without a modchip. Basically, if you want EOPs, don't get this one.

//BEST RELIABILITY couldn’t be assigned.//

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Switch

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Switch_Lite