For many, the Nintendo Switch has a format and interface that make it ideal for running a mobile operating system and with it the myriad of popular mobile game titles. However, it's fair to assume that Nintendo wouldn't like this idea that much.
The Japanese gaming giant is well known for its over-protection of its property and its exact use, but that didn't stop XDA developer enthusiasts from releasing a publicly available (and very unofficial) Android ROM for the console. portable. .
The firmware is based on the Nvidia Shield TV operating system - LineageOS 15.1, itself based on Android 8.1 - and can be used to browse the web, play mobile games and (theoretically) everything you could do on the go. a mobile device.
With LineageOS 15.1 installed on your switch, you can use it in both hands-free and docked mode, with support for audio and Joy-Con in both modes.
There is a catch ...
Of course, this comes with many caveats, the main one being that Nintendo obviously does not support this kind of interference and would not help you if any issues occurred on your console as a result of hacking.
You will also need a Switch Console that can run Hekate's bootloader, which might not be possible if you purchased one of the updated consoles after June 2018.
In addition to this, some other limitations listed include poor battery life, lack of auto-rotation, Joy-Cons not communicating properly with certain apps, and various docking and Wi-Fi issues.
Although this is certainly a trick reserved for those who have some knowledge at this stage (we do not recommend doing it if you are inexperienced, for fear of breaking the console), this marks an important milestone to open the door. Nintendo Switch at full speed. potential.