Nintendo is reportedly blocking access to SmileBASIC 4 and Civilization VII on Switch 2 firmware version 23.0.1.
Nintendo appears to be remotely blacklisting both SmileBASIC 4 and Civilization VII on Switch 2 firmware version 23.0.1 (via Coxxs on Twitter/X), potentially through BCAT or a rebootless update. The development may have major implications for those interested in jailbreaking their consoles, as both titles are known to be the entry point for exploits.
Those interested in jailbreaking their Nintendo Switch 2 are advised to avoid connecting their console to the internet. They are also cautioned against relying on 90DNS, a DNS-based method commonly used to block connections to Nintendo’s servers, as internet service providers may hijack DNS queries and render the protection ineffective.
The exact mechanism being used to block access to SmileBASIC 4 and Civilization VII on Switch 2 firmware version 23.0.1 is currently unknown, with BCAT and a rebootless update being the two possibilities under consideration.
This also highlights a potential issue with 90DNS when IPv6 is enabled, where if the Switch 2’s IPv6 connection setting is not disabled, the console may still reach Nintendo’s servers through the IPv6 DNS supplied by the router, potentially bypassing the intended restrictions.
Furthermore, for those who still intend to jailbreak their Switch 2, it is recommended to keep their consoles offline and stay on firmware version 23.0.1 or earlier, as other cartridge-based games containing exploitable vulnerabilities may emerge in the future.
Hacker OatmealDome recently found that both SmileBASIC 4 and Civilization VII now require the latest system firmware before they can be launched on consoles connected to the internet. The change meant that Switch 2 owners who didn’t update their systems lost access to these games once the update requirement was triggered. Both titles previously served as entry points for the software-based jailbreak discovered in late October, 2026. The restriction follows Nintendo’s release of Switch 2 firmware version 23.5.0 on November 9, which patched the operating system vulnerability that made the jailbreak possible.
