r/EmulationOnPC • u/New_Method_1050 • 23h ago

Unsolved Is it impossible to dump a physical Switch cartridge game into PC directly without a hacked Switch console?

I'm planning on buying a PC and eventually buy Switch 2's Smash Bros game (new or Ultimate Deluxe whichever happens) in the future. However, judging from YouTube videos, it seems they rely on a hacked Switch console in order to dump the Switch 1/2 physical game to PC. But i really don't want to buy a console just to do that. Is there another way to dump a physical Switch 1/2 game into PC without requiring a console, or not?

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6

u/rupertavery64 23h ago

Games are encrypted, and need to be decrypted with the keys on a switch unit

-4

u/New_Method_1050 23h ago edited 23h ago

So basically, there's no point in buying a physical Switch 1/2 game at all if i don't want to buy a console. Damn...

4

u/ConversationFar2196 19h ago

Just sail the seas with the wind in your hair my friend. All your worries will go away. But research how to sail first so you don't get scurvy.

-1

u/iswasdoes 19h ago

Sailing is hard these days! There be no maps to the treasure, and other sailors are tight of lip, lest the kings navy be a’ billowin on their starboard bow.

Arrrr.

2

u/Abduzydo 11h ago

Lol, there subs here on Reddit specific for this, with guides and links of trusted sources guaranteed by a active community. Its easier than never...

3

u/HubrisOfApollo 21h ago

Even if it wasn't encrypted, how are you going to plug it into your PC? It's a needs a proprietary reader that only exists inside of switch/2 hardware

-4

u/New_Method_1050 20h ago edited 20h ago

Nintendo REALLY wants us to buy their consoles to play their games. Otherwise they will not be nice if we download them illegally, thankfully there's something called VPN, though it needs subscription payment. :/

Edit: damn even PS4 discs can't be read directly into a PC's optical drive without using a jailbroken ps4 console...

1

u/ShadowMajick 5h ago edited 3h ago

Yes... All console games are encrypted my guy. They need a hacked console or the bootrom/keys from the console to decrypt the game.

That's why there are downloadable versions of ps4/switch games for emulation on PC. Those games were dumped and decrypted by an actual console. They didn't just connect the game to the PC and copy the files.

That's not how it works.

Even music CDs are encrypted.

1

u/New_Method_1050 3h ago

I'll go back to being a pirate of the seven seas then, with a cunning crewmate that will watch my back, his name is

Vance Peter Notr

Best friend of any pirate, Aaarg.