News — Page 7
Two useful upgrades for Game Boy Advance SP.
For a shell replacement: an eXtremeRate shell for Game Boy Advance SP.
Officially the best battery for Game Boy Advance SP — FunnyPlaying, 1040 mAh!
Retrospective
Switch 2 is already on sale, yet even after launch the internet is still circulating wild rumors that Nintendo can “brick” the console by measuring voltage on the chips and instantly shutting it down if someone tries to open or probe it.
To judge whether claims like that are believable, it helps to look back at history: how hackers spent decades bypassing the security of handheld consoles, from the Game Boy to the original Switch.
The article explores why even the most sophisticated cryptographic chains were defeated by a single mistake, and how hardware vulnerabilities turned locked-down systems into open doors.
Read the article: How Nintendo consoles were hacked: a retrospective from Game Boy to Switch
Switch 2: first exploit found on launch day
Nintendo Switch 2 has gone on sale, and hackers found a way to execute code in user space on the very first day. Researcher @retr0.id published a demonstration of a userland exploit based on ROP (Return-Oriented Programming) — a vulnerability that works in user space without kernel access or system privileges. It was used to draw graphics to the screen through the framebuffer.
This exploit does not allow running pirated games, installing homebrew, or executing arbitrary native code. It is limited to the space of a normal application with no administrator privileges.
Even so, it is an excellent starting point: full hacks of the 3DS, Wii U, and original Switch all began with userland vulnerabilities like this. Even partial control over code execution creates opportunities to analyze the system, find new holes, and bypass protections.
“To be clear, this is a userland exploit not native code exec, but this is how it starts.”
— @ModernVintageG
There is no practical use for the exploit yet, but if researchers keep digging in this direction, deeper system access may only be a matter of time. From there, custom firmware or overclocking would not be far behind — just as happened with the original Switch.
Some Nintendo Switch 2 units reached users without release firmware
Although the official Nintendo Switch 2 launch was still ahead, consoles had already started reaching users in significant numbers.
Particular attention went to units running factory firmware — a stripped-down version of the system used during manufacturing. At least one such console reached researchers, and a firmware dump is already being analyzed.
What is factory firmware for?
During manufacturing, it is important to quickly verify that the console powers on and that the screen, buttons, audio, Wi-Fi, and other basic functions work. Going through the full consumer setup process — language, region, account, internet connection — would be slow and inconvenient.
That is why this stage uses lightweight firmware, which boots faster, requires minimal interaction, and makes testing easier to automate. After testing, the final system software is installed — for Switch 2, presumably version 19.0.0.
Why does this matter?
Factory firmware does not provide direct access to the system, but it is often less protected than the final build. Some security patches may only be added to the release version, creating an opportunity for researchers.
This kind of firmware can reveal how the console works at the most basic level: which processes start at boot, how memory is organized, and which keys and commands are used. That does not mean an immediate hack, but it can provide the foundation for future discoveries.
Something similar happened with the Nintendo 3DS: only through deep analysis of early firmware were researchers able to find a bootloader vulnerability and later develop the sighax exploit, which provided full control over the system.
What happens next?
It is far too early to talk about a full Switch 2 hack, but the direction is clear. The community is actively studying the data, and history shows that major progress can begin with details like these.
Does Mig-Switch really brick Nintendo Switch 2?
User @psgoclosed shared a screenshot from a Nintendo Switch 2 showing the error message: “Unable to start software. Return to the HOME Menu and try again.”
Interestingly, this contradicts earlier rumors that Mig-Switch supposedly “bricks” the Switch 2 permanently.
In reality, the device simply does not launch the software — quite possibly because backward compatibility is not enabled in the current firmware. Nintendo plans to add Switch 1 game support in the day-one update.
So there is no need to panic yet — we are waiting for official information.
Update: It does not brick the console, but it does not work either. Officially confirmed.
If you insert Mig-Switch (Mig-Flash) into Nintendo Switch 2, the console detects the game, but launching it produces an error.
The @MigSwitchRussia group published a video showing Mig-Switch v2 (Mig-Flash) being used on Nintendo Switch 2.
Does Mig-Switch work on Switch 2?
I previously wrote about an unconfirmed claim by GBAtemp user LagunaLoire88 that Switch 2 supposedly enters a bootloop if a MIG Switch is inserted.
Like many people on GBAtemp, I found the original post hard to believe.
And now there is a new twist. On April 23, 2025, the Twitter account @MigSwitch posted a claim that the device was compatible with Switch 2. The post quickly spread across social media, then disappeared almost immediately.
At first glance, that looked like confirmation. But the deeper you look, the more questions arise.
First, the @MigSwitch account appears to belong not to the developers but to a US retailer, theMigFlash.store, which sells the devices. MigSwitch does not appear to have an official public website at all. And on the retailer's site, Switch 2 support is buried in tiny footer text that only mentions “possible compatibility thanks to backward compatibility with games.”
Second, the deleted tweet — or perhaps replaced tweet — raises even more doubts. The original post has now been replaced by something completely different.
Yes, Nintendo could theoretically have sent a complaint. But there is another possibility: the retailer itself may have removed the post once it realized the claim had spread across Reddit and other forums. Given the questionable legal status of devices like this, they may simply have decided not to take the risk — especially without a 100% guarantee.
There has also been a claim online about a new tool called Mig Dumper — or perhaps a firmware update — supposedly intended to dump games from the Switch 2 itself. There is no confirmation of that either.
For now, this looks more like an attempt to attract attention and build demand ahead of the console's release, especially given the high prices of Switch 2 games and the particular requirements of microSD Express cards.
At the moment there is neither confirmation nor a solid debunking. If MIG Switch really works on Switch 2, it could be the first step toward bypassing the system's protections. Or it could simply be advertising aimed at gullible buyers.
RESPONSE FROM METALIK
The story around LagunaLoire88's GBAtemp post has continued.
As expected, the comments turned into a fight. Metalik in particular laid out, point by point and quite bluntly, why LagunaLoire88's story looks more like fiction than fact.
I agree with most of his arguments, although I probably would not have put it quite so harshly.
What Metalik said:
1. MIG Switch cannot be detected
It emulates a normal Switch cartridge almost perfectly. Nintendo does not even ban users for playing their own cartridge dumps. Read about later reports of bans in a separate post.
At worst, it simply would not work; it would not somehow brick the console.
2. Bricking over voltage fluctuations is unrealistic
Voltage naturally fluctuates a little all the time. You cannot require the power rail to sit at exactly 5.0 V at every moment.
If the protection triggered on normal variations like that, hundreds of consoles would be killed by accident. It makes no sense.
3. Requiring a full game reinstall after a crash is nonsense
No Nintendo game has ever required a complete uninstall and reinstall after a crash.
It simply does not sound believable, and there is no evidence for it.
4. Installing firmware from an SD card is not an official feature
Nintendo has never provided a standard way to boot or install system firmware from an SD card.
Unofficial bootloaders and custom environments such as Atmosphere, Daybreak, and Hekate can do things along those lines, but only by exploiting vulnerabilities in the system.
If someone describes this as default system behavior, they do not understand what they are talking about.
Bottom line: the original post is complete nonsense from someone who does not understand the subject.
Nintendo Switch 2 bricks when Mig-Flash is inserted
When Nintendo updated its user agreement and explicitly said it could remotely disable consoles for “illegal use,” many people took it as simple intimidation. The wording sounded serious, but more like legal scare tactics intended to discourage enthusiasts from poking around in the hardware.
But not much time passed before the first alarming reports appeared: it looked as if Switch 2 really could become a “brick” after the slightest interference.
And this supposedly did not even require a full hack — connecting a diagnostic device or attempting to access memory was enough to send the console into an endless reboot loop.
One such case was reported after connecting a MIG Switch. As soon as it was connected to the Switch 2, the console reportedly rebooted and never came back, remaining stuck in a bootloop. Similar behavior was said to occur when probing the memory chip: the system allegedly detects even tiny voltage fluctuations and immediately prevents booting.
Users were said to have a formal recovery option through a special application on an SD card. But it was not a standalone recovery tool: the application itself contained no firmware and instead downloaded it from Nintendo's servers. You could not choose a version, and downgrading was impossible. According to the report, even this recovery method did not always work.
The console also supposedly retained internal reports or flags indicating unauthorized interference. When such a unit was returned to Nintendo, the modders allegedly lost their tester status and were required to reimburse the cost of the device, with legal action threatened otherwise. If true, that would suggest Switch 2 contains a mechanism capable of recognizing hacking attempts and automatically marking a device as having violated the terms of use.
So if you have a Switch 2 in your hands and a MIG Switch lying nearby, it might be better to keep them apart for now. The follow-up to this story is in the analysis of Metalik’s objections.
Microvision
Seriously!
Could you ever have imagined that Nintendo became the leader in handheld gaming only because Abraham Lincoln once decided to grow a beard?
And yet that is where the story begins.
Read the history of the MB Microvision — the first handheld console with interchangeable cartridges, released ten years before the Game Boy and an inspiration to Nintendo itself.
👉 Milton Bradley Microvision — the forgotten ancestor of handheld consoles
First reports
The first information connected with attempts to hack the Nintendo Switch 2 appeared on May 29, 2025 on the GBAtemp forum.
A user named LagunaLoire88 wrote that hacking attempts had already begun.
Translation:
Some hackers have gained access to Nintendo Switch 2:
1. MIG Switch was tested and immediately locked up the Switch 2, effectively turning it into a “brick.” The console became stuck in a bootloop.
2. Testers who tried reading the flash memory directly from the ROM chip also encountered immediate lockups. Switch 2 apparently uses an unusual protection mechanism capable of detecting even minor voltage fluctuations caused by chip-probing tools.
Unless an exploit can be found that avoids triggering the lockout, hacking in the foreseeable future seems unlikely. I know three testers who are experienced with hardware and software modification, and every attempt they made immediately bricked the console.
Nintendo provided a step-by-step firmware recovery process from an SD card, but the console remained stuck in a bootloop and could not be restored.
The consoles ultimately had to be returned to Nintendo. The testers were barred from further testing and required to pay for the devices. Otherwise, they were threatened with small-claims court proceedings.
It appears that the console contains some mechanism for tracking unauthorized use.
Another tester had early access to a game that crashed and rebooted the system. The console stopped working until the firmware was completely reinstalled.
This would suggest that reboot-based exploits for launching unsigned code are probably impossible, because the firmware will refuse to boot without a full reinstall.
And incidentally, firmware recovery from an SD card is not an offline process: it uses a normal application that connects to Nintendo's servers and downloads the latest firmware.
That means you cannot install a specific version, so the method cannot be used as a workaround.
After reading the original post, here are a few more sober thoughts.
LagunaLoire88's comment caused a lot of noise in the gaming and hacking communities. But when you think about it, the story sounds overly dramatic — and in places not very convincing at all.
Start with the obvious question: who are these “testers”? According to the author, they received Switch 2 units before release, carried out hardware experiments, and then supposedly returned the devices to Nintendo, after which they were threatened with legal action.
If these were official testers, that sounds extremely unlikely. In reality, hardware like this is provided under contract with strict restrictions on any interference. Nobody would casually disassemble the console, connect to its chips, and try to read flash memory; doing so would immediately terminate the agreement and likely end any future cooperation.
A much more plausible explanation is that these consoles reached enthusiasts unofficially — through a leak, the gray market, or via someone at a developer. Once outside the official chain, somebody may genuinely have tried a MIG Switch or probed the chips on the board. Parts of the story may be based on real events, but it is very hard to believe that official Nintendo partners were carrying out hardware hacks.
The protection mechanism described also raises questions. The author claims Switch 2 can supposedly hard-lock itself into a bootloop when it detects voltage changes, even extremely small ones. Similar protection has existed in some gaming systems. For example, Xbox Series X|S uses eFuses: under certain conditions, part of the circuit is physically blown, making recovery impossible without specialized equipment.
But for a handheld console, that kind of protection seems questionable. Power can fluctuate for completely innocent reasons — a low battery, a third-party charger, even an impact. If the system treated such events as an attack, it would produce false positives and mass lockouts, especially among ordinary users.
The overall tone also sounds more like an emotional retelling of rumors. The console breaks, the testers panic, return it to Nintendo, receive threats of legal action... It is dramatic, but there is not a single piece of proof: no screenshots, no logs, no serial numbers. Just claims.
Of course Nintendo Switch 2 has stronger security — that was expected. After the vulnerabilities in the first model, the company could not afford to repeat the same mistakes. But every security system is a compromise: between locking the system down against attacks and not harming ordinary users when something goes wrong.
A bank vault is a good analogy. You can give it an impenetrable door with an automatic lockout system. Secure? Yes. But if that door jams by accident, who repairs it, and at what cost? That is why security in banking is always designed around risk, response time, and the value of what is being protected.
The same logic applies to Switch 2. Nintendo could implement aggressive protection that permanently disables a console at the slightest suspicion of tampering. But even if it falsely triggered in only 1% of cases, that could mean hundreds of thousands of service requests given the expected sales volume. And in some countries, such a lockout could also conflict with consumer-protection or even criminal law.
Nintendo is unlikely to design a different security system for every country. A more realistic outcome is a compromise: the protection reacts to clear tampering, but not to an ordinary power glitch. What that compromise actually looks like will become clear once Switch 2 reaches independent researchers. Until then, all of this remains rumor.
Follow the updates on this topic.
🔥 Factory-sealed case of six ultra-rare GBA SP Rip Curl units goes to auction
How many retro consoles do you think are still lost in forgotten storage rooms, attics, and garages? How many have already been thrown away simply because somebody could not be bothered with newspaper classifieds or a flea-market stall? With Avito, eBay, and other online marketplaces, old hardware got a second chance. Now it is easy: find something, look up the price online, and list it for sale.
Sometimes, though, these finds do not come from private sellers but from former store owners. The business closed long ago, while forgotten inventory kept gathering dust in a stockroom. That is exactly what happened here.
🎮 A sealed case containing six brand-new Game Boy Advance SP Rip Curl systems — one of the rarest GBA SP editions — has been listed by the British auction house Ewbank’s.
🔴 ⚪ The Rip Curl GBA SP is a limited Australian model released in 2004 to mark the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the world's longest-running professional surfing competition. The console has a white-and-red design with the Rip Curl logo on the top shell. It was available only in Australia and sold exclusively through Rip Curl and Surf Dive 'N' Ski stores.
And this is not just a box — it is a factory-sealed Nintendo shipping case containing six brand-new, never-opened Rip Curl GBA SP consoles. The case is still sealed and carries Nintendo's original markings — everything remains in factory condition.
The lot came from someone who previously worked in the games industry and, according to the auction house, may be the last surviving case of its kind in the UK. How an Australian exclusive ended up in Britain remains a mystery.
ℹ️ Additional information:
- Quantity: 6 consoles in factory packaging
- Box weight: approximately 1.35 kg
- Dimensions: 26 × 24 × 23 cm
- Provenance: from a client who previously worked in the games industry
- Auction estimate: £5,000–£10,000
- Opening bid: £2,400
🔗 View the lot and place a bid: 👉 Ewbank’s Lot #2032 – GBA SP Rip Curl Case (x6)
📚 More on the history of this limited edition in my article on GBAsp.ru: 👉 Game Boy Advance SP: Australian limited editions