SmileBASIC 4 removed from Switch 2 eShop

SmileBASIC 4, a software title for Nintendo's Switch 2, has been removed from the eShop, mirroring a similar situation that happened over ten years ago with the 3DS version of SmileBASIC. This removal likely follows the discovery of a security vulnerability in the game.

Researcher claims to have jailbroken Switch 2

A researcher known as Sammy Hajhamid, also known as pepsipu, claims to have developed a 100% software jailbreak for the Switch 2 using WebKit, the web engine that powers the console. According to messages shared on Discord and reported by ONE Jailbreak, this jailbreak is already running on his system.

Previous attempts targeted WebKit

This is not the first time Hajhamid has focused on WebKit. Earlier efforts were part of a project involving Codex, the programming agent of OpenAI, which helped with some of the work. These initial attempts allowed for diverting the console’s execution flow but did not grant full system privileges, which the new jailbreak seems to achieve.

WebKit port works on recent firmware

According to Notebookcheck, the WebKit-based jailbreak works on firmware version 23.0.1, the latest at the time of the release of ns2jb. However, ONE Jailbreak is more cautious, noting that the port works on Hajhamid’s console but does not specify a firmware version, suggesting it may be useful for older firmware versions.

Jailbreak remains tethered and limited

Despite the progress, the jailbreak is described as "tethered," meaning it disappears after each restart of the console. Unlike Atmosphere, the custom firmware for the original Switch, this jailbreak does not provide access to the kernel or allow the installation of a permanent custom firmware. No official reports or downloads of the WebKit version have been released, and Nintendo has not commented on the situation.