Nintendo Switch 2 Homebrew Launcher Reportedly Demonstrates Jailbreak App’s Disappearance from eShop Listings

Footage showing a Homebrew Launcher running on the Nintendo Switch 2 has surfaced following the disclosure of a software-only jailbreak. Meanwhile, SmileBASIC 4, the programming application used to enable the exploit, has reportedly disappeared from several regional Nintendo eShop listings. The developments come just a day after the jailbreak became public, although Nintendo has not confirmed whether the app’s demise is linked to the vulnerability.

The exploit, known as ns2jb, was developed by security researcher Sammy Hajhamid, also known as pepsipu. Enables native code execution on Switch 2 firmware 23.0.1 without hardware changes, but does not provide permanent custom firmware.

Demos of Homebrew Launcher and Vulkan emerge

As reported by VideoCardz on October 23, footage shared by user X Alex CVJ appears to show a Homebrew Launcher running on Nintendo’s latest console.

A separate video shared by Ravens Claw X on October 23 also appears to show HBLauncher v1.0.0 running on the Switch 2.

Ravens Claw X also shared a video on October 22 claiming to demonstrate Vulkan graphics support on Switch 2.

Vulkan is a low-level graphics API used by games and other graphics-intensive applications. The support could be useful for homebrew development, although the footage alone doesn’t establish the extent of its functionality or compatibility.

These early demonstrations do not prove that a complete and stable homebrew environment is available to the public.

SmileBASIC 4 reportedly disappears from regional eShop listings

The demonstrations emerged alongside reports that SmileBASIC 4 is no longer available in several regional Nintendo eShop stores.

According to VideoCardz, the application disappeared from North American and European listings, with users later reporting similar changes in Japan.

SmileBASIC 4 is a programming application originally released for the first Nintendo Switch. Hajhamid’s exploit exploits application vulnerabilities when running the Switch 2’s backward compatibility feature.

Its reported demise could make the exploit more difficult to reproduce for users who have not already obtained a compatible version.

However, availability reports vary by region and access method. Some users have indicated that the application can still be accessed via alternative links to the storefront, including pages opened from the News Feed of the console.

Removing an application from sale would not automatically delete copies already installed on users’ consoles.

Nintendo has not publicly confirmed the reason for the reported changes SmileBASIC 4 and it is unclear whether the company or the application publisher started them.

Jailbreaking remains limited

Hajhamid’s technical explanation of ns2jb describes how vulnerabilities involving SmileBASIC 4 and Switch 2 filesystem services can be combined to execute native code with elevated privileges of the system module.

The researcher demonstrated the exploit by modifying it The world of Mario Kart to include unofficial characters like Hatsune Miku, Peter Griffin, and Cinnamoroll.

However, ns2jb remains a captive exploit. It must be enabled again after a console reboot and does not provide kernel-level access or persistent custom firmware.

The project’s public documentation describes the software and networking requirements needed to play the demonstration.

The recently reported Homebrew Launcher and Vulkan tests suggest that experimentation is continuing, but do not prove that the developers have overcome these restrictions.

For now, the two developments highlight different aspects of the same vulnerability: early attempts to build software around it and uncertainty about continued access to the application used to trigger it.