Recent Nintendo Switch Homebrew Releases: NXQuake2, PlayerNX, ReiNX 1.6 with partial FW 6.0 support, CheckPoint 3.4.2 and more
Like the PSVita, the Nintendo Switch is also getting its fair share of useful and fun homebrew. Recently, it got a port of Quake 2, a video player and updates to many essential homebrew utilities so we’re going to take a look at these releases.
NXQuake2 released – Play id Software’s classic on your Switch!
Quake 2 is the successor to Quake, a very popular first person shooter by id Software. Like DOOM, Quake 1/2 managed to get unofficially ported to a variety of devices including the PSVita, Wii, 3DS and even the original XBOX.
The Nintendo Switch port is by fgsfdsfgs and is based on Yamagi Quake II. Fgsfdsfgs is a talented homebrew developer who managed to port Half-Life and Counter Strike to the PSVita with pretty good performance among other things.
NXQuake2 has the following features:
- Sound and music (in OGG format) support
- Multiplayer support which has been confirmed by community members
- Software rendering with support for multiple resolutions
- FgsFdsFgs has said that he plans on trying to add hardware rendering once support is added for OpenGL libraries in libNX
- Support for both docked and undocked mode
It must be noted that this port doesn’t support mods/mission packs yet and the analogue controls may be a bit wonky at times so don’t blame your joycons if the camera goes a little haywire!
To get NXQuake2, simply follow this link. You may also play Quake I via NXQuake if you haven’t played that already!
PlayerNX – Hitting back at Nintendo’s failure to include a video player!
For some reason, portable consoles never seem to have an excellent video player and sometimes it’s fully omitted. Nintendo went with the latter on the Switch and if you want to watch locally-stored videos on it, you’re out of luck unless you like the idea of running Linux on your device.
However, developer ‘XorTroll’ has come to the rescue and now, he’s come up with an experimental video player called PlayerNX! This video player is based on ffmpeg and is at the current state:
- Support for MP4, FLV, AVI, WEBM, WMV, MKV and 3GP so you’re mostly covered when it comes to file formats
- It’s said that some videos may lag a bit but they work fine for the most part
- It has a file browser so you can explore your ‘sdmc:/media’ directory and select the video you want to play
- Unfortunately, audio is currently not supported so you’ll either have to watch stuff with subtitles or stick with silent movies
- The developer is working on fixing this so you’ll be able to enjoy your video clips in their full glory soon!
If you want to watch locally-stored videos on your Switch, simply follow this link and grab the NRO file.
Other releases
Quite recently, the Nintendo Switch has also seen the following releases:
- Checkpoint 3.4.2 with improved compatibility with some games and CFWs
- SD Files has been updated to version 8.1 so that you can get an up-to-date Swiss army knife for Switch hacking
- A red themed HBMenu
- ReiNX 1.6 with partial support for FW 6.0.0
- ReiNX.guide to make your life installing ReiNX easier!
- Many other releases including Tinfoil 0.2
Conclusion
To get the releases mentioned above, simply follow the in-line links. If you have any issues, report them to their respective GBATemp thread or Issues tab of their GitHub page.
N.B: Please note that I could not test the software mentioned in this article as I currently do not own a Switch. The best efforts have been made to report accurate information through online research! – Aurora.
Great
SDFiles link, links to checkpoint
first and yes it finally uploaded!
Nintendo’s ineptitude led to the fastest hacked modern console in history haha, how embarrassing. Not complaining though! Love free save data backups, classic games, and of course free nintendo games! That’s what happens when you’re anti-consumer and make us pay for basic features like backing up save data.
SD files link goes to checkpoint github
It can jailbreak new switch chip hardware ?
First of all I would love to say THANK YOU for this Switch news article. You are an amazing person, Aurora. I just wish there were MORE news about the Switch on here. Wololo is my favourite blog to read. The only place I know for Switch news is GBA Temp but to be fair I am too stupid to get most forum threads on there. A lot of technical knowledge is required.
I have to admit I am struggling with this article as well. You have to know what what software does. I would love it if you could say what what software does in one sentance next to it for idots like me. I know everyone who is DEEP in the scene will hate me and bash on me for asking this “READ IT UP!” they will shout but come on.
For example:
A red themed HBMenu
So I can give the Switch a red theme instead of white or black? I am assuming this but of course the github doesn’t really say much and something like a screenshot would help there. Not your fault though.
Checkpoint 3.4.2
I’ve clicked on the link, read it, then clicked on the read me to also read that to finally find out WHAT exactly it is: A fast and simple homebrew save manager for 3DS and Switch written in C++.
Yeh I am already way too stupid to get that as well. So what does a homebrew save manager does? Do I organize homebrew with it? Does it makes saves of homebrews like I can organize a save game of Quake for the Switch? Does it allow to run homebrew???
“SD Files has been updated to version 8.1 so that you can get an up-to-date Swiss army knife for Switch hacking”
I do not get this either. It should do what exactly? Also it links to Checkpoint as well.
Like I’ve said if you are new to the scene it is hard to get into. I am not a hacker. One simple sentence to sum up what what does what help so much.
Keep up the great work and it would be amazing if you could find guest authors. Like I’ve said you are an amazing girl and you do a great job on delievering Vita news but the Switch hardly gets any news even though the scene seems to be booming.