VIDEO: Here’s How to Run Homebrew on Your Nintendo 3DS

Earlier this Week, Hacker Jordan 'Smealum' Rabet Announced that, Obscure 2011 3DS Platformer, Cubic Ninja, Held the Key to Unlocking the 3DS Hardware to Run Homebrew Code, Causing an Immediate Run on the Hard-to-Find Game. Now, 'Smealum' has Published the Details of his Hack, along with the Instructions and Tools Needed to Unlock the System. What 'Smealum' is Calling "Ninjhax" Exploits an Error in Cubic Ninja's Level Creation and Sharing Function, which Passes Created Level Data via Generated QR Codes. Scanning a Specifically Manufactured QR Code, Generated by a Tool on 'Smealum's' Website to Match any Current 3DS Hardware / Firmware Combination, Causes the Game to Run a Boot File Loaded on the SD Card. At that Point, the Bootloader Downloads Additional Code over Wi-Fi and Installs and Runs a Front-End Channel that Can Run Other Homebrew Software Stored on the SD card.


After that Initial QR Code Scan, the Homebrew Menu Can be Loaded Simply by Accessing the Save Game File through Cubic Ninja. Right Now, the Selection of Homebrew Software Coded for the 3DS is Limited Primarily to Simple Server Utilities, Classic Nintendo Emulators and an Unofficial Port of Minecraft. 'Smealum' Says the Hack is a "user mode exploit" that Isn't Able to Run Pirated 3DS Software but, Should be Able to Run Legitimate Games in Region-Free Mode Some Time in the Future. "I don't care if people pirate in their private lives but, I don't want to be a part of it", 'Smealum' Said in a Recent Interview with EuroGamer about the Exploit.


This is the 1st Purely Software-Based Method of Running Homebrew Code on the 3DS in its 3-and-a-Half Years on Store Shelves, though Gray-Market Flash Cards Have been Available for Some Time. 'Smealum' 1st Hinted at the 3DS' Exploitability Earlier this Year but Told EuroGamer he Held Off Publishing the Details until the New 3DS was Launched in Australia and Confirmed to Support the Exploit. The Hack's Public Release will Likely Set Off the Usual Back-and-Forth Battle between Nintendo Firmware Updates Meant to Kill the Exploit and New Hacks to Get Around those Protections. For Now, though, Enjoy the Capability to Use your 3DS to Run Code Other than that Officially Approved by Nintendo.




Info Sources:

http://smealum.net/ninjhax

http://smealum.net/ninjhax/#qrcode

http://www.3dbrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_Applications

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-21-student-homebrew-nintendo-3ds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKjuy3-z054