Switch 2: a flaw in the Civilization VII cartridge lets homebrew run
The exploit, credited in press reports to Gezine, uses the physical Switch edition of Civilization VII to run code on Switch 2. It covers homebrew, mods and save copying, and 2K is reportedly pulling the cartridge.
A cartridge, the in-game chat and a phone over USB
Kotaku credits the exploit, known as CivSwitch, to hacker and modder Gezine. It abuses a bug in the Switch version of Civilization VII, which runs on Switch 2 through backward compatibility. Getting in takes the physical cartridge and the game's chat, and the code is triggered from a device connected over USB, such as a phone. The digital version won't work.
Press coverage doesn't cite any statement from the author, although a GitHub post has been linked on Reddit.
Homebrew yes, Switch 2 game dumps no
CivSwitch can run homebrew apps, modify games and reach save data so you can copy it. For now it can't play dumps of Switch 2 games.
The earlier method, ns2jb, enters through SmileBASIC 4, does the same things and also has to be repeated at every boot. What differs is how easy the game is to get: SmileBASIC 4 is gone from the eShop, while Civilization VII has been sold in stores since June 2025. Neither one is a persistent CFW like Atmosphère on the original Switch.
2K and the cartridge
Kotaku reports that 2K may have started pulling the physical edition. Some buyers mention cancelled orders and an Amazon notice that refers to technical and security requirements. 2K hasn't commented, and Nintendo hasn't released an update that closes the bug.
Published reports don't tie the exploit to a specific firmware version. If you care about Switch 2 homebrew, hold off on updating until it's known whether the next system version patches it.
