It took a bit longer than it did with the original Nintendo Switch, but the Switch Lite has been hacked a little more than three months after its release.
Team-Xecuter has released a video showing the Nintendo Switch Lite running its proprietary SX OS 3.0. While not a lot is shown in the video, it’s clear that the hack allows those running the OS to install homebrew applications on their handheld Nintendo console. Though details on how the hack works are not yet publicly available, Team-Xecuter has stated that the method will be released early next year. However, as with previous TX hacks, it’s likely that the team will charge for access to the information.
Homebrew is an open source software package management system that allows developers to easily create their own software. In the context of video game consoles, homebrew came to mean unofficial and unlicensed software created by amateur developers for use on hacked systems. These programs range from indie games to music players to web browsers and are generally benign in intention.
However, a console that can run homebrew can also run licensed software that has been obtained illegally. This is why a hacked console is bad news for console developers. It paves the way for theft of licensed games and can result in a huge loss of revenue. Console developers are therefore usually very quick to track down weak points that have allowed hackers access, and they regularly release software updates to plug holes and prevent new ones.
It’s expected that Nintendo is already working on a way to patch the exploit that has allowed Team-Xecuter to install SX OS 3.0, so it’s possible that this security loophole will soon be removed. The problem is that hackers are just as actively trying to find new ways to break into the system as Nintendo is trying to keep them out.
Team-Xecuter has been hacking consoles and creating homebrew since 2001, in the days of the original Xbox. They make their money by selling items that allow console owners to hack their systems, and it seems that one of their current targets is the Nintendo Switch Lite.
The Nintendo Switch Lite was released on September 20, 2019.