Nintendo Switch 2 Homebrew Launcher reportedly demonstrated as jailbreak app disappears from eShop listings

Footage appearing to show a Homebrew Launcher running on the Nintendo Switch 2 has emerged following the disclosure of a software-only jailbreak. Meanwhile, SmileBASIC 4, the programming application used to trigger 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 application's disappearance is connected to the vulnerability.

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

Homebrew Launcher and Vulkan demonstrations emerge

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

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

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

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

These early demonstrations do not establish that a complete, stable homebrew environment is publicly available.

SmileBASIC 4 reportedly disappears from regional eShop listings

The demonstrations have emerged alongside reports that SmileBASIC 4 has become unavailable through several regional Nintendo eShop storefronts.

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

SmileBASIC 4 is a programming application originally released for the first Nintendo Switch. Hajhamid's exploit uses vulnerabilities in the application when it runs through the Switch 2's backwards compatibility functionality.

Its reported disappearance could make reproducing the exploit more difficult for users who have not already obtained a compatible version.

However, reports about availability have varied by region and access method. Some users have indicated that the application can still be accessed through alternative storefront links, including pages opened from the console's News section.

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 to SmileBASIC 4's availability, and it remains unclear whether the company or the application's publisher initiated them.

The jailbreak remains limited

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

The researcher demonstrated the exploit by modifying Mario Kart World to include unofficial characters such as Hatsune Miku, Peter Griffin and Cinnamoroll.

However, ns2jb remains a tethered exploit. It must be activated again after the console restarts and does not provide kernel-level access or persistent custom firmware.

The project's public documentation describes the software and network requirements needed to reproduce the demonstration.

The newly reported Homebrew Launcher and Vulkan tests suggest that experimentation is continuing, but they do not establish that 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 over continued access to the application used to trigger it.

Louise Burke - Tech Writer / Proofreading - 76 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025

Louise is a passionate linguist and performer with a background in translation for the UN and EU institutions. With a deep love for languages and storytelling, she blends precision and creativity, whether translating complex texts or bringing characters to life on stage and screen. When not immersed in words or music, you’ll find her refining accents, working on new songs, or exploring the magic of cinema.