YouTube exploit that launches homebrew 3DS games revealed

The last time we checked on Smealum and co.’s Homebrew Launcher for the Nintendo 3DS, it required the user to have a copy of Cubic Ninja, a game that’s now rare and expensive for this very reason. The good news (if that worries you) is that tubehax will only remain in operation so long as you’ve got your 3DS pointed towards a specific DNS.

Smealum calls it tubehax, since it uses the YouTube app that’s available – for now at least – from the eShop.

Jordan Rabet – also known as smealum – teased that the “tubehax” exploit would be coming soon, which will open a new route to running custom software on the system. The game was pulled down from the eShop as it was being used to run homebrew games as well, although the game has been downloaded thousands of times since its launch in February.

Apparently you just need to have the YouTube app on your system, then follow a set of instructions to get the homebrew launcher working on 3DS.

It also allows users to create their own custom themes for their 3DS console, and to play games from any region.

You can see evidence of the exploit above, so don’t be surprised if the YouTube app for 3DS is temporarily removed by Nintendo too this week while they work on fixing up the issue.

No. These exploits run strictly in userland, meaning that we do not have full control over the console, and therefore cannot run pirated software.

Smealum has been behind several other exploits for the 3DS.

The Homebrew launcher is used for various purposes, and is somewhat similar to the iPhone “jailbreak”.