Sammy Hajhamid - GoKawiil

Researcher demos partial software jailbreak of Nintendo Switch 2

Security researcher Sammy Hajhamid (Pepsipu) disclosed a software-only, 'tethered' exploit chain for the Switch 2 that achieves userland access via bugs in SmileBasic 4 and the console's FileSystem services module. The hack requires a networked macOS or Linux PC and enables homebrew, game modding, reverse engineering, save backups, and peripheral access, demonstrated with modded characters in Mario Kart World.

arstechnica.com · 2026-10-22

Modder uses OpenAI Codex to jailbreak Nintendo Switch 2 firmware

Researcher Sammy Hajhamid cracked Switch 2 firmware version 23.0.1 using OpenAI's Codex, enabling homebrew software, access to most device peripherals, and save file backups. The software-only exploit took about two weeks to develop and doesn't require reboot persistence or hardware modification, though it must be reapplied after each restart and needs a connected computer. He demonstrated the hack with a modded Mario Kart World featuring non-Nintendo characters like Goku and Walter White.

techspot.com · 2026-10-22