As the Nintendo Switch enters its fifth year some Switch owners debate the pros and cons of modding their Switch consoles, a decision that should not be approached lightly. A modded Switch can potentially open the door to using cheats in games, accessing homebrew games, or even emulating older consoles. But modding a Switch voids its warranty, and modified consoles are banned from all online services. Even with the resources available on the web, modding a Switch is far from a simple process, with a good chance the console could be “bricked” and rendered permanently unusable. The most common routes to modding a Switch only work with the oldest models, which may be harder to purchase at this point. Running original Xbox games on a modded Switch may be a tempting proposition for some, but there may be better ways to relive older generations than by modifying a Switch.
With the increasing availability of dedicated portable emulation devices, along with portables designed to play PC games, like Steam Deck, there is less reason to mod a Switch than ever. For those concerned with the legality of ROM files and emulation, modding a Switch is a non-starter, as the risks of modding offer little in return. A modded Switch can make use of custom firmware, some of which might offer a preferable user interface, or the ability to fully install physically owned Switch games files, enabling play without the need to change the cartridge. The loss of access to the e-store, services like Switch Online, and any sort of online play, are significant drawbacks for such dubious conveniences. Some of the most popular Switch games thrive based on their online functionality, ranging from the surprise trades of Pokémon Sword and Shield to online multiplayer for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Even for those who are wholly comfortable with emulation, modding a Switch offers surprisingly little, when there are better alternatives that provide the same result. A portable console that can be docked to a TV or monitor, with access to whatever Switch files or legacy console games the owner can download, may sound tempting, but in the end, even the most emulation-savvy gaming fans will likely conclude they can find a better device. For legacy consoles, dedicated portable emulation consoles from manufacturers like Anbernic, Ayn, and Retroid offer easier access to emulation on the go, no modding required. The Ayn Odin can comfortably emulate consoles up to the PlayStation 2 without voiding its warranty. Those who enter the murkier waters of emulating current-gen consoles, like the Switch, can get surprising mileage from the Steam Deck, and won't-break-the-bank alternatives may provide similar functionality.
Modding A Switch Is Complex & Risky, Alternative Hardware Is Made For Emulation
Given the drawbacks, and the complexity of the modding process, there is little to gain from modding a Switch, as opposed to finding an alternative device to achieve similar ends. This further narrows the Switch modding audience. Casual Switch users will want to stay far away from the practice, and savvy emulation fans will prefer to simply use a PC or a dedicated device for that purpose. Hardware aficionados who enjoy tinkering with devices for its own sake might enjoy modding simply for the challenge, but this is a fairly narrow group of niche enthusiasts. At present, the modding community has confirmed Nintendo bans modded consoles from all online services, not their associated accounts. It is always possible the company will extend this to associated accounts in the future, which could imperil access to purchased games or online multiplayer on other Nintendo devices.
Last year Nintendo ordered a ROM site to destroy game files following a lawsuit, and the company’s litigious aggression is infamous in the industry, as Nintendo also targets non-profit fan games and similar projects. It would not be at all surprising if Nintendo extended its policies beyond banning specific hardware from online services to targeting accounts, or the modders themselves. Some online storefronts sell pre-modded Switch consoles, eliminating the complexity of modding and the risk of the device being bricked in the process. However, with the exorbitant markups of these modded devices, those interested in buying a hacked Switch could instead purchase a Steam Deck for a similar price. Given the ease of emulation on the Steam Deck, there is little reason to spend the same amount of money for a modified Switch that still offers less versatility than Valve’s portable gaming device.
There are several ethical considerations that prompt some gamers towards modding their Switch. Nintendo’s Wii U store closure hurt game preservation, and it suggests the walled garden of the Switch’s e-store will only maintain its longevity so long as it remains profitable for the company. These ethical concerns butt up against legal realities, as Nintendo zealously guards its IPs against both the threat of piracy and the perceived threats of fan games and unlicensed ports. Anti-consumer gimmicks, like the limited duration sales of the original NES Fire Emblem for Switch, or the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection, add to these concerns, as does the reality that Switch game pricing remains out of step with market norms when compared to games of similar age on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC storefronts. Still, while modding a Switch may seem like a reasonable countermeasure for some fans, it is far from an ideal solution.
The Loss Of Online Services Mean Modding A Switch Is Simply Not Worth Doing
Nintendo has slowly taken steps to expand the Switch’s functionality. While Switch Online’s Nintendo 64 emulation leaves much to be desired, Game Boy Advance games coming to Switch Online could be more exciting. Streaming services like Netflix are still not supported on the Switch, unlike the Wii and Wii U. It is understandable that some fans would like their Switch hardware to do more than what Nintendo officially permits, but the costs and complications of finding a Switch model that can be modded, or purchasing an expensive pre-modded Switch, are simply not worth it.
Emulation fans would be better off using PCs or Android devices for game emulation, or purchasing a dedicated emulation portable, and leaving the Switch to function as it was intended. For most Nintendo Switch users, there is too little to gain and too much to lose out on, making modding far more hassle than it is worth.