Ubuntu 24.04 Now Runs on the Nintendo Switch (Unofficially)

"The fact it's possible at all is a credit to the ingenuity of the open-source community," writes the blog OMG Ubuntu: Switchroot is an open-source project that allows Android and Linux-based distros like Ubuntu to run on the Nintendo Switch — absolutely not something Nintendo approves of much less supports, endorses, or encourages, etc! I covered the loophole that made this possible back in 2018. Back then the NVIDIA Tegra X1-powered Nintendo Switch was still new and Linux support for much of the console's internal hardware in a formative state (a polite way to say 'not everything worked'). But as the popularity of Nintendo's handheld console ballooned (to understate it) so the 'alternative OS' Switch scene grew, and before long Linux support for Switch hardware was in full bloom...

A number of Linux for Switchroot (L4S) distributions have since been released, designated as Linux for Tegra (L4T) builds. As these can boot from a microSD card it's even possible to dualboot the Switch OS with Linux, which is neat! Recently, a fresh set of L4T Ubuntu images were released based on the newest Ubuntu 24.04 LTS release. These builds work on all Switch versions, from the OG (exploit-friendly) unit through to newer, patched models (where a modchip is required)...

I'm told all of the Nintendo Switch internal hardware now works under Linux, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sleep mode, accelerated graphics, the official dock... Everything, basically. And despite being a 7 year old ARM device the performance is said to remain decent.
"Upstream snafus have delayed the release of builds with GNOME Shell..."

Well in that case

[drinkypoo]

"Upstream snafus have delayed the release of builds with GNOME Shell..."

I wasn't sold until I read this line.

Re:

[markdavis]

>"I wasn't sold until I read this line."

Why would anyone want to run Gnome? There are so many better choices.

Of course, I am not sure why anyone would want to run Linux on a game console, either :)

Don't tell nintendothat..

[Rujiel]

After the yuzu thing, who knows who they will try to sue.

Re:

[Can'tNot]

Anyone else making an emulator for current-gen hardware. They've done it before, Yuzu wasn't the first time. This is not that.

This doesn't do anything to enable piracy, so Nintendo probably doesn't care. I can't remember them ever suing anyone for something like this which was not piracy related.