Late last year, a homebrew developer made a massive announcement: there was a new Nintendo Switch modchip coming soon, and it would support not just launch units, but also more modern OLED and Mariko Switch revisions (though not Erista). The icing on the cake was that the modchip to hack the Switch only cost $3. and consist of a RP2040-Zero unit, which hugely contrasted with the only other available modchip--the HWfly--which went for over $100 at the time. Dubbed the Pikofly chip, it would, in theory, be able to install custom firmware on your Switch.

Scene members quickly took notice, as many began working on breaking down how the chip functioned, with lots of information available in the Pikofly discussion thread. And now, thanks to their hard work, you can now take advantage of it, in order to get the Pikofly modchip working on your Switch. GBAtemp user Rehius has published a GitHub project page that has a firmware file and further documentation, while Flynnsmt4 managed to decrypt parts of the code, even creating a cycle-accurate emulator that further explains how the chip works. With these new milestones, people are already discussing techniques to solder the chip to their consoles.

If you're curious to see more, and how this unfolds, head on over to the Pikofly thread to see the latest discussion and updates.

 

[Adran_Marit]

I've got quite a few various pi development boards lying around. I'm looking forward to trying this and hacking ALL the switches.
Except Erista.
...maybe?
Think I'll wait until things are more clear-cut, as I'm the overly cautious type, but looking forward to super tiny soldering.

@Chary
Wait, is it Pico or Piko? the github says Pico, but people keep saying Piko/Pico interchangeably?

Pretty sure it's been confirmed picofly but internet be internet

as of today there are no tutorial.. hopefully someone will make a tutorial

Not sure on video tutorial but all the relevant images for boards are online

 

[Noctosphere]

@Costello @shaunj66 @Chary
Hello,
I'm asking for someone else, but do you guys think there will be some kind of market, here on gbatemp, for people who wishes to have these chips to be installed on their switch but can't do it themselves?
I think there were this kind of market here before, where only trusted/verified users (by staff members) were being listed as people who could sell their services to solder these chips in others switch. That people would pay them, send their switch, cover transport fees, and then their switch would get modded and sent back to them.
Do you guys think it could be doable again?
As in, that one of you (costello, shaunj66 or chary) will open a single topic listing which members are trustable for these services?

 

[subcon959]

@Costello @shaunj66 @Chary
Hello,
I'm asking for someone else, but do you guys think there will be some kind of market, here on gbatemp, for people who wishes to have these chips to be installed on their switch but can't do it themselves?
I think there were this kind of market here before, where only trusted/verified users (by staff members) were being listed as people who could sell their services to solder these chips in others switch. That people would pay them, send their switch, cover transport fees, and then their switch would get modded and sent back to them.
Do you guys think it could be doable again?
As in, that one of you (costello, shaunj66 or chary) will open a single topic listing which members are trustable for these services?

That's a good way to get Nintendo's attention. We could also start hosting roms again too.

 

[CaliousKai]

View attachment 360471​

Late last year, a homebrew developer made a massive announcement: there was a new Nintendo Switch modchip coming soon, and it would support not just launch units, but also more modern OLED and Mariko Switch revisions (though not Erista). The icing on the cake was that the modchip to hack the Switch only cost $3. and consist of a RP2040-Zero unit, which hugely contrasted with the only other available modchip--the HWfly--which went for over $100 at the time. Dubbed the Pikofly chip, it would, in theory, be able to install custom firmware on your Switch.

Scene members quickly took notice, as many began working on breaking down how the chip functioned, with lots of information available in the Pikofly discussion thread. And now, thanks to their hard work, you can now take advantage of it, in order to get the Pikofly modchip working on your Switch. GBAtemp user Rehius has published a GitHub project page that has a firmware file and further documentation, while Flynnsmt4 managed to decrypt parts of the code, even creating a cycle-accurate emulator that further explains how the chip works. With these new milestones, people are already discussing techniques to solder the chip to their consoles.

If you're curious to see more, and how this unfolds, head on over to the Pikofly thread to see the latest discussion and updates.

Nintendo will be coming for this person just like the other modders.

 

[Blavla]

From where?

germany

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

@Costello @shaunj66 @Chary
Hello,
I'm asking for someone else, but do you guys think there will be some kind of market, here on gbatemp, for people who wishes to have these chips to be installed on their switch but can't do it themselves?
I think there were this kind of market here before, where only trusted/verified users (by staff members) were being listed as people who could sell their services to solder these chips in others switch. That people would pay them, send their switch, cover transport fees, and then their switch would get modded and sent back to them.
Do you guys think it could be doable again?
As in, that one of you (costello, shaunj66 or chary) will open a single topic listing which members are trustable for these services?

We had users who offered these services that got notices from Nintendo to stop, so no, not something we should offer if we wanted to stay off Nintendo's bad side.

 

[ninjastarforcex]

How are people able to jailbreak consoles through tryhard physical modification yet PC piracy (Denuvo) is deader than dead?

 

[musashiro]

@Costello @shaunj66 @Chary
Hello,
I'm asking for someone else, but do you guys think there will be some kind of market, here on gbatemp, for people who wishes to have these chips to be installed on their switch but can't do it themselves?
I think there were this kind of market here before, where only trusted/verified users (by staff members) were being listed as people who could sell their services to solder these chips in others switch. That people would pay them, send their switch, cover transport fees, and then their switch would get modded and sent back to them.
Do you guys think it could be doable again?
As in, that one of you (costello, shaunj66 or chary) will open a single topic listing which members are trustable for these services?

i would love this but shipping from my country would be expensive. I can only hope shops start offering services here coz i cannot solder

 

[SkullKid_]

The price of a Raspberry Pi Zero will surely increase now!

No. The rp2040 zero is used for other things, keep in mind the surge of molders buying them is such small niche group of people. It won't make a significant impact.