OP
OP
Yup. With a bit of overclocking to get it to full speed for some games.
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Switch Homebrew is running Wii, Dreamcast and GameCube games at great speeds (TimeSplitters 2, Skies of Arcadia + others are fully playable)
- Thread starter vestan
- Start date
OP
OP
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 runs really well with some slowdown here and there although it's basically a locked 60fps if you set the CPU overclock to Max Overdrive +2
Gonna test Metroid Prime, Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction and True Crime next
Gonna test Metroid Prime, Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction and True Crime next
Really tempted to set this up now. Is there any compatibility list of what games work well?
Lakka doesn't run anything on the Switch's own OS so it should be completely safe.
i'm probably wrong, not the other poster :)
i thought any kind of hacking would lead to your system being banned from online features.
OP
OP
All Dreamcast games run really well through Reicast
With GC, there's nothing official so far but I'm going through all the GC games I own now and might put something together idk
There's quite a few games that refuse to boot like the Spider-Man games which sucks
You can still do this and retain access to all of the Switch's features + online and stuff if you've set up an emuNAND. Think of it as a secondary OS on your Switch where you can do all the homebrew stuff. A clean sysNAND means you can go online with less chance of catching a ban.
I have it hacked, both for Lakka and CFW and I keep the switch in air-plane mode when in CFW, then when I want to go online I just boot it with normal firmware and connect back to internet, never had any issue. Do not take it for granted that my case is a guarantee of no ban, just sharing my case (never used emuNAND, just two firmwares)
(to clarify, never had anything on the switch that is not a mod or emulation, if you start installing games you don't own I think that's dangerous land)
Is there a written tutorial on all this somewhere? I'd love to give it a read. Also, thanks for the reply and help. :)
I'm seeing a lot of questions in this thread and I thought I'd take the time to answer some them (I've been playing with Lakka for the past week):
1. What type of Switch do I need?
A: You need a Switch that was bought before July 2018. These Switchs have a hardware flaw that allows for custom firmware and payload injection that was patched followed July 2018. If you are unsure if your Switch is hackable, this serial number chart may come in handy.
2. What is the risk of a ban?
A: It depends on the type of firmware you are running. If you are running a modified form of Horizon (The Switch's Default Operating System), then there is a pretty good chance of banned should the console interface with Nintendo's servers. In these cases, airplane mode is heavily recommended. If you are running Lakka or some other Linux based system running off an sd card, then there should theoretically be zero risk of a ban, as the Switch's NAND won't be touched. I have been using Lakka for the past week and I'm currently have not been banned.
3. Is there any type of tutorial out there for hacking a Switch?
A: There are several tutorials for getting cfw and Lakka up and running, here are several that I have linked below:
Nintendo Switch Haxing Reddit Tutorial Thread (This subreddit has a blanket ban on talks of piracy for those concerned)
SD Setup's Noob Switch Hacking Guide (This is good for getting your Switch hackable; I personally would not recommend downloading any firmware from there site however, for I don't know if they have the latest versions of each type of Homebrew.)
Lakka's Install Page and FAQ Page (Note: Lakka can only run emulators; it has no other utilities or functionalities)
There is also the post Vestan made directly below mine, it is perfect for those who are only concerned with getting Lakka running, and includes the exact same steps I took to get Lakka running. I hope this helps out anyone who is curious.
1. What type of Switch do I need?
A: You need a Switch that was bought before July 2018. These Switchs have a hardware flaw that allows for custom firmware and payload injection that was patched followed July 2018. If you are unsure if your Switch is hackable, this serial number chart may come in handy.
2. What is the risk of a ban?
A: It depends on the type of firmware you are running. If you are running a modified form of Horizon (The Switch's Default Operating System), then there is a pretty good chance of banned should the console interface with Nintendo's servers. In these cases, airplane mode is heavily recommended. If you are running Lakka or some other Linux based system running off an sd card, then there should theoretically be zero risk of a ban, as the Switch's NAND won't be touched. I have been using Lakka for the past week and I'm currently have not been banned.
3. Is there any type of tutorial out there for hacking a Switch?
A: There are several tutorials for getting cfw and Lakka up and running, here are several that I have linked below:
Nintendo Switch Haxing Reddit Tutorial Thread (This subreddit has a blanket ban on talks of piracy for those concerned)
SD Setup's Noob Switch Hacking Guide (This is good for getting your Switch hackable; I personally would not recommend downloading any firmware from there site however, for I don't know if they have the latest versions of each type of Homebrew.)
Lakka's Install Page and FAQ Page (Note: Lakka can only run emulators; it has no other utilities or functionalities)
There is also the post Vestan made directly below mine, it is perfect for those who are only concerned with getting Lakka running, and includes the exact same steps I took to get Lakka running. I hope this helps out anyone who is curious.
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Written guide on how to get L4T Lakka set up
OP
OP
Kind of? I made a guide for another Era user but I guess there's no harm in posting it here. It's quite simple really although you do need a secondary microSD card formatted to FAT32
- Download L4T Lakka here https://lakka-switch.github.io/documentation/archives.html
- Drag all the contents of that RAR file into your FAT32 SD card's main directory
- Go into /lakka/storage and make a folder called "ROMS"
- At this point, you drag your ROMS in, if you want to be a neatfreak like me, organize them by console name so for example "/lakka/storage/ROMS/GameCube" etc
- Put your Switch in RCM mode
- Download this Hekate payload https://github.com/Joonie86/hekate/releases/download/4.10.2J/hekate_ctcaer_4.10.2J_AIO.7z
- Open the 7z file, Extract the .bin file somewhere on your PC you'll remember (I have a folder in my Downloads called "Switch Homebrew", you don't need anything else that's in the 7z file)
- Now push the Hekate payload to your Switch using your preferred method (I use TegraRCMGUI)
- Now go to your Switch, a screen should appear
- Using the volume and power buttons, navigate to where it says "Launch" and push the power button
- Then you should see an option called "More Configs", navigate to it using the volume buttons then press the power button
- Then finally it should say "Lakka", push the power button down and you're in
Now that you're in L4T Lakka, we need to make a few changes so Lakka can brute force through Dreamcast, GameCube and Wii games.
- Go to Settings, select User Interface, and enable "Show Advanced Settings"
- Afterwards, back out and a bunch of new options should appear in the Settings menu
- Scroll up and you should see "Drivers". Open that up and go to the "Video" option, change it from "gl" to "vulkan"
- Going to the Main Menu (it's the one to the left of Settings)
- Go to CPU Overclock, open it up, and setting it to "Maximum Performance"
- Next, back out and go to GPU Overclock which is below CPU Overclock, open it up and enable "Handheld Boost Mode"
OP
OP
Lakka doesn't support docked, unfortunately. Only handheld at the moment but the team is trying to get it implemented.
Handheld it is then : ). Thanks for the info! (and thanks for the details on how to install the software)
Wow, that doesn't sound bad. I'll give it a try when I have a chance and let you know. One question I did have, can I use the same SD card to store non-Lakka files in there after the hack? Like can I put some eShop downloads and save files back on it or do I only have the 32 GB internal memory to work with?
OP
OP
Just tried out Metroid Prime. It hovers around 30-35 fps but man there's a fuckton of slowdowns. Not sure why anyone would want to play the game like this when the Wii and GC versions run it at a beautiful 60fps.
Why not just get two SD cards? One for Lakka and the other for everything else.
So I can just swap them with no issues? I mean, I wouldn't mind that.
OP
OP
Nice! Would this Jakka program be helpful when it comes to me running mods on the eShop Final Fantasy VII download or is that another beast altogether? Is Jakka just an emulator itself?
Different but super straightforward, you will need specific switch mod for ff7 and boot with Custom firmware into atmosphere. If you manage to get into Lakka you already have done the biggest step tbh, then it's a matter of dropping the mods into a specific folder and good to go. Out from home atm but happy to type later how to sort it out.
Gosh, that would be rad. Sorry to get too off topic but can you mod your FF VII save file? I'm still mad that I missed Trine on my 4th Enemy Skill materia lol
I remember before the Switch launched some "insiders" were saying that Nintendo had a working Gamecube emulator ready to go for Switch. Probably wasn't true, but I remember how exciting that was.
It seems like Nintendo has become very complacent with the Switch. It's selling well. They don't need to improve the UI. They don't need to add more classic games. They don't really need to do anything, which is unfortunate.
OP
OP
indeed
no need to bother with a GPD Win now for all that emulated sixth-gen goodness
It was the main reason I was so excited for Nintendo's next handheld. Even before Switch was revealed I knew that the Virtual Console would finally be able to offer these newer systems.. it made so much sense!
And now here we are, over two years later..
To my understanding, any sort of hacking will likely result in a ban. So this is something to consider before taking the leap.
Oh my god if homebrew can get freaking TimeSplitters running on the Switch then as soon as Nintendo puts out a revision I am hacking the crap outta my launch unit hnnnn
PleaseFwiw, I think what Vestan/OP is referring to and what others are posting screenshots of are two different things.
Lakka is it's own OS (Linux 4 Tegra/L4T as it's base) that boots from an SD card and only runs Retroarch, doesn't touch internal storage at all (ie. is undetectable).
Others are posting modified versions of the Switch OS which can either be run via modifying the OS on the internal storage
PS. Saturn:
Dreamcast:
Arcade:
Please tell me
About how Saturn runs
Please I beg you...
Looks like a bunch of cores are actually working work on Linux-only right now, especially with the exclusive Vulkan support turned on, like the Reicast and the Yaba Sanshiro ones.
It's understandable but kind of a shame since Lakka it's still missing some basic feature like docked mode and wireless controller support.
Does the LAKKA dolphin emulator support using the joycons as wiimotes?
I would love to have Wii Sports Resort and Wario Ware available again
I would love to have Wii Sports Resort and Wario Ware available again
Behold the hacker tech that defeated the beast that was nintendo switch security.
Lets hope they do better with switch pro
/SnakeSalute
Lets hope they do better with switch pro
/SnakeSalute
OP
OP
I haven't tried but a person over at GBATemp has reported that WarioWare D.I.Y Showcase works and runs at an almost constant full speed
So even at the latest 8.0.2 or whatever it is is still hackable for Lakka? Brilliant.
Looking forward to when there is an idiot proof version of all of this. I know it's closer than ever but I am not yet ready to risk modding my day 1 switch.
How is Wii support on Lakka? That's super interesting.
I really like the sounds of this but having to be tethered to a computer every time you want to enter Lakka is a bit of a put off.
I might do it if I won't get banned for it though.
I really like the sounds of this but having to be tethered to a computer every time you want to enter Lakka is a bit of a put off.
I might do it if I won't get banned for it though.
Still sucks that you have to put a fuckin' paperclip in your Switch (or the Joycon?) to hack it. Can't be bothered.
I mean there is a jig that makes it a lot easier to get into recovery mode. Furthermore, once you get it into recovery mode, there is a setting on hekate that allows you to make it so that the Switch boots into recovery mode every-time, regardless of whether you have the correct set-up or not; you would theoretically only need the jig/paperclip once. It really isn't that big of a bother.
Decided to give Sonic Heroes a go and it sadly isn't running too well. Putting the emulated cpu at 50 percent seems to be the sweetspot in terms of performance vs slowdown but even then its only fullspeed about half the time. Still really impressed that it's able to run at all though
Edit: Turning off Vsync helps tremendously. It's probably full speed around 80% of the time now at max performance and 95% of the time max overdrive +3
Edit: Turning off Vsync helps tremendously. It's probably full speed around 80% of the time now at max performance and 95% of the time max overdrive +3
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