Nintendo Switch 2 Jailbroken via SmileBASIC 4 Bug, AI Tools Cited
A security researcher has reportedly carried out what is being described as the first jailbreak of Nintendo Switch 2. The researcher, who publishes under the handle pepsipu, claims the work was completed on the console’s latest 23.0.1 firmware and released footage showing modified characters running inside Mario Kart World, including Peter Griffin from Family Guy, Hatsune Miku, Angry Birds and Cinnamoroll. According to a blog post accompanying the release, the entry point for the exploit was a bug found in SmileBASIC 4, a first-generation Switch title that remains playable on the new hardware through backward compatibility. The claim has already prompted a response from Nintendo.
Because Switch 2 can run original Switch software, the programming tool SmileBASIC 4 became the way in. The current method, however, is described as a limited software-only jailbreak: the hacked state resets every time the console is powered off and on, meaning the game has to be launched again to trigger it. The researcher also noted that if Nintendo removes the software from its digital storefront, this particular route would be closed off entirely. Partly for that reason, the gaming community remains divided over whether the technique qualifies as a genuine jailbreak.
According to pepsipu, OpenAI’s Codex contributed substantial work during the process, including analyzing code, hunting for bugs, handling memory issues, physically controlling the console and taking part in parts of the exploit chain. A line at the top of the original post, roughly “set the goal of jailbreaking Switch 2, don’t make mistakes,” was later misreported as an actual prompt. The researcher clarified that development took two weeks of considerable effort, while the mod shown in the demo footage was put together in a single day through “vibe coding” purely for fun. Pepsipu’s real-world identity is security researcher Sammy Hajhamid, and the case is being treated as an example of AI-assisted reverse engineering.
Nintendo has moved to limit the exploit path and removed the programming software previously used to trigger the bug from its digital storefront. One games blogger said Nintendo contacted them directly and asked for the removal of posts containing leaked game data. Although no evidence has surfaced, speculation online suggests that recent PS5 jailbreak efforts may also have involved AI assistance, and Sony has shipped a series of firmware updates to close vulnerabilities. With AI now able to help researchers and attackers alike, delisting software and copyright action may not be enough on their own — a question worth watching before GTA 6 arrives.
