The Nintendo Switch has been hacked to behave like a fully-fledged Linux PC.
The transform from hybrid home console to Linux computer was possible thanks to a flaw in Nvidia’s Tegra X1 chip, which powers the Nintendo Switch.
Since the flaw is hard-coded into the boot ROM, there is nothing Nintendo can do to stop people hijacking the console to run Linux.
Twitter account fail0verflow shared the results earlier this week.
The footage shows a Nintendo Switch running the full Linux desktop operating system.
Hackers are then able to interact with the operating system via the multi-touch display on the Switch.
In the video, which has already racked-up 100,000 views, somebody is seen launching Twitter, checking the social network, and replying to a tweet using an on-screen keyboard.
Running a desktop-style operating system on a video games console might seem a little pointless, and to some extent it is.
However, the exploit in the Tegra X1 chipset could lead to emulators and homebrew games and software for the Switch down the road.
As it stands, there is no Virtual Console option on Switch to enable players to re-live retro Nintendo video games.
Unofficial emulators – accessed via Linux – could allow players to run classic games on the Switch.
At the time of writing, fail0verflow is keeping its cards close to its chest.
The hackers have yet to reveal how they managed to bypass Nintendo’s own Switch software and get an open-source operating system running on the console.
In the meantime, those who have not hacked their Switch will be please to hear that Nintendo has confirmed it will launch retro titles on its latest console later this year.