Hello there! I just found a way to play .NSP games for higher firmwares on my 4.1.0 Switch.

THIS ALSO WORKS WITH ATMOSPHERE /w sigpatches


These methods seem to be obsolete, since the newest Tinfoil builds ignore the "minimum required firmware"-info in the xml-files of any NSP. Just Install any game/update/DLC with the newest Tinfoil and it should just work out of the box! (If the keygeneration limitation is still met!)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
KEEP IN MIND:
1. only basegames and updates can be installed with newest tinfoil! DLC don't work, yet! But update patching doesn't work with my method (yet?)
2. Not every game can be used with every Switch Firmware! Read the red text at the end of this post for more Information!


I tested this method with Pokemon Quest and Captain Toad, both start after editing the games.

NEW Method for playing games with lower Firmware:

1. Open NSP with Hexeditor e.g. HxD (https://mh-nexus.de/en/programs.php)
2. search for "RequiredSystemVersion" in the file
3. change <RequiredSystemVersion>335675392</RequiredSystemVersion> to all zeroes like that <RequiredSystemVersion>000000000</RequiredSystemVersion>
3.1 Count the digits again! dont forget any of them!
4. save file and install nsp!

That means no extracting anymore! Installable with e.g. Devmenu, too!

Sadly this method doesn't work for game patches/updates: they still force you to update!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Old Method for playing games with lower Firmware:
You need to do the following:
1. extract the .NSP file with hactool in a cmd window:
"/path/to/hactool.exe" -tpfs0 --pfs0dir=GameFolder "/path/to/YourGame.nsp"

keep in mind to change the path and name of hactool.exe and YourGame.nsp according to your setup!

2. edit the ....cnmt.xml file in the extracted folder with wordpad:
change e.g <RequiredSystemVersion>335675392</RequiredSystemVersion> to <RequiredSystemVersion>0</RequiredSystemVersion>

protip: the string is almost at the bottom of the xml file!

3. copy the folder of the game with all the nca, etc. files to
SD:/tinfoil/extracted/GameFolder/....

4. Boot ReiNX and install extracted NSP with tinfoil

5. ????

6. Profit!



___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you plan on doing this often, prepare a batchfile:

1. make a new whatever.txt file
2. edit and put in the following command (but according to your setup):

"/path/to/hactool.exe" -tpfs0 --pfs0dir=GameFolder "%1"
pause

3. save the file and rename the fileextension to .cmd.
4. you can now drag/drop any .nsp file on this .cmd file and you will get your game extracted into GameFolder.


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE HELP ME:

It seems that only some games run on lower firmwares through this method, since the game encryption etc. has changed over time!
The "Keygeneration" in the XML file should tell us which FW is at least needed to play a game!

Keygeneration 0=at least FW ??? needed?, e.g. VOEZ, Mario+Rabbids
Keygeneration 1=at least FW ??? needed?
Keygeneration 2=at least FW ??? needed?
Keygeneration 3=at least FW ??? needed?, e.g. Super Mario Odyssey
Keygeneration 4=at least FW 4.1.0 needed?, e.g. Captain Toad, Pokemon Quest, Octopath Traveler, Limbo, Lego Incredibles, Hello Neighbor
Keygeneration 5=at least FW 5.0.0< needed! e.g. Nekopara Thanks @puppydg68

I need help testing those games on low firmwares! Please tell me on which firmware you are on and what games work/don't work.

If I get enough data (game name+firmware of your switch+key generation of the game) I'll compile a list of compatible games!

When you try to install a game with higher key generation than your FW is capable of the game will install fine with tinfoil (no Error)! But in the home menu you will only have a grey box with a loading circle in it!
We have currently no way to play those games!
___________________________________________________________________________

Get the newest Tinfoil by Adubbz here: Click!
Added old Tinfoil build. Works for me but no updates allowed!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________


UPDATE: Keyfile not mentioned anymore, since it doesn't seem to be needed for .nsp extraction! Thanks @Wizard0f0z for accidentally finding that out!
UPDATE2: Keygeneration in cnmt.xml should be an indicator which fw you at least need for the game to be played
UPDATE3: Newest Keygeneration (5) added. Those games seem to work only on 5.0.0+.
UPDATE4: Error when installing higher key generation game added.
UPDATE5: easier method added!
UPDATE6: Added Tinfoil files! @Adubbz I hope it's okay?
UPDATE7: greyed everything out (methods are obsolete as of Aug. 5th), since Tinfoil ignores the min. Fw. requirement!

 

[Kobigov]

i can't find the link on github or the thread, it seems the OP removed it.

Yeah it wouldn't work on sxos' installer but works fine on tinfoil. Try googling some special secret illegal sd files for reinx that you should under no circumstances use.

 

[kylum]

@Zocker4444 tinfoil does updates now! Last I read extracted installs was broken but most wont need it. Don’t know if it’s fixed. However, that fixed all my update nags. Not sure if editing updates will work as I didn’t have to edit any of mine.

 

[Kobigov]

@Zocker4444 tinfoil does updates now! Last I read extracted installs was broken but most wont need it. Don’t know if it’s fixed. However, that fixed all my update nags. Not sure if editing updates will work as I didn’t have to edit any of mine.

Perfect timing!

 

[Rhapsody]

@Zocker4444 tinfoil does updates now! Last I read extracted installs was broken but most wont need it. Don’t know if it’s fixed. However, that fixed all my update nags. Not sure if editing updates will work as I didn’t have to edit any of mine.

So wait, do we need to patch the updates now if a game that requires 4.1.0+ needs it or not?

 

[Kobigov]

So wait, do we need to patch the updates now if a game that requires 4.1.0+ needs it or not?

Possibly, although I opened up an update nsp and checked the required system version and there's just a zero there. Try it out. It might work.

 

[Rhapsody]

Possibly, although I opened up an update nsp and checked the required system version and there's just a zero there. Try it out. It might work.

Will do, I'll be giving it a shot with the following games;

A Robot Named Fight
Celeste
Hand of Fate 2
Thumper

All of those games have updates available, so I'll give it a look.

EDIT: The update files for the titles have the following Required System Versions, which contain extra digits;

A Robot Named Fight - 4209403625472
Celeste - 4518641270784
Hand of Fate 2 - 773430706176
Thumper - 773429788672

Of note, Thumper appears to be in a unique situation compared to the other games, in that the base game doesn't appear to require any particular firmware (it has RequiredSystemVersion listed as 0), while the update does require a particular version.

I don't think these have any correspondence to the game's required firmware version in regards to the extra digits; for example, Celeste's base game required version is 269484032, which clearly has no correspondence to it's update's required version.

 

[Kobigov]

Will do, I'll be giving it a shot with the following games;

A Robot Named Fight
Celeste
Hand of Fate 2
Thumper

All of those games have updates available, so I'll give it a look.

EDIT: The update files for the titles have the following Required System Versions, which contain extra digits;

A Robot Named Fight - 4209403625472
Celeste - 4518641270784
Hand of Fate 2 - 773430706176
Thumper - 773429788672

Of note, Thumper appears to be in a unique situation compared to the other games, in that the base game doesn't appear to require any particular firmware (it has RequiredSystemVersion listed as 0), while the update does require a particular version.

I don't think these have any correspondence to the game's required firmware version in regards to the extra digits; for example, Celeste's base game required version is 269484032, which clearly has no correspondence to it's update's required version.

Try zeroing it out I guess. Worst that happens is it doesn't work.

 

[Rhapsody]

Try zeroing it out I guess. Worst that happens is it doesn't work.

Should I try installing the update with Tinfoil or Devmenu? I'm giving the Tinfoil thread a look but I don't know if it has the updated binary; I can't see the attached binary when viewing the thread for whatever reason.

 

[Kobigov]

Should I try installing the update with Tinfoil or Devmenu? I'm giving the Tinfoil thread a look but I don't know if it has the updated binary; I can't see the attached binary when viewing the thread for whatever reason.

Compile the latest tinfoil. It just added update support.

 

[Rhapsody]

Compile the latest tinfoil. It just added update support.

Can you throw me a bone on how to compile it? Looks like I need devkitPro so I'm installing that now. How would I go about running the makefile?

 

[kylum]

If it’s working before updating then you might not need to and/or get undesired results.

 

[Kobigov]

Can you throw me a bone on how to compile it? Looks like I need devkitPro so I'm installing that now. How would I go about running the makefile?

I don't actually have a way to compile it myself lol. I'll see if anyone else has it. Or if someone reading this already did it please post.

 

[Rhapsody]

I don't actually have a way to compile it myself lol. I'll see if anyone else has it. Or if someone reading this already did it please post.

In the meantime I think I'll give Devmenu a shot and see if that works.

 

[puppydg68]

I don't actually have a way to compile it myself lol. I'll see if anyone else has it. Or if someone reading this already did it please post.

Guys make sure if you manage to find it and compile it, DO NOT try to install DLC with it, its broken and could corrupt the title DB or something. See the original release thread to see the full warning!

Drakia said: ↑
Super important warning: If you get your hands on the Tinfoil build that supports installing updates, DO NOT USE IT TO INSTALL DLC. You'll screw things up, and may need to revert to a previous NAND backup.

 

[Rhapsody]

Guys make sure if you manage to find it and compile it, DO NOT try to install DLC with it, its broken and could corrupt the title DB or something. See the original release thread to see the full warning!

The reason we're trying to compile it is because DLC and update support was added.

 

[Kobigov]

The reason we're trying to compile it is because DLC and update support was added.

I don't think dlc support was but update definitely was.

 

[Rhapsody]

Quick update, one of the modifications I made to an NSP is causing SX OS's install feature to freeze up when I try to access it. I'm getting rid of any existing NSPs on my SD card and installing Pokemon Quest so I can access Devmenu, and then I'll go from there.

Also, to confirm, if I install Pokemon Quest with SX OS even with the version zero'd out, it requires an update to launch. Looks like I'll need to use Tinfoil to install Pokemon Quest.

 

[Kobigov]

Quick update, one of the modifications I made to an NSP is causing SX OS's install feature to freeze up when I try to access it. I'm getting rid of any existing NSPs on my SD card and installing Pokemon Quest so I can access Devmenu, and then I'll go from there.

Also, to confirm, if I install Pokemon Quest with SX OS even with the version zero'd out, it requires an update to launch. Looks like I'll need to use Tinfoil to install Pokemon Quest.

There are some devmenu nsps out there by the way.

 

[kylum]

There is already a compiled version of Tinfoil if you can find the 1.5 stash files, that you shouldn’t ask for.

If the update has 14 digits in required version then it won’t work with 0’s. At least Arms didn’t work for me. Prompts the forced update nag. I’m on 4.1.0.

I wonder if getting 5x updates will even work on lower fw. Although, all I’m after is getting rid of the game update nag. At least we can still play those, guess I’m being a bit picky.

 

[Rhapsody]

There are some devmenu nsps out there by the way.

It appears to require a system update to use. Are you able to link me to a download for Tinfoil? Even the version without update support will work, I just can't access the attachment on the thread for some reason.