3DS Close To Being Cracked

Nintendo's three dimensionally inclined handheld, despite being almost two years old now, has yet to be cracked by hackers. But according to Tiny Cartridge, that might soon come to an end.

Apparently, much progress has been made in recent weeks. A short while ago, a hacker was able to finally break the system's protective protocols and run custom code.

This in turn has led to various homebrew tests as well as full control via kernel mode with an unmodified 3DS, thanks to an exploit that uses a specific (and as of yet unidentified) retail game.

The hacker responsible for that last feat admits that the exploits can be easily patched (and most definitely will), though with full kernel control, the sky is the limits, like bypassing the 3DS's region lock.

He also notes that he has no interest in allowing others to use his hack to run pirated software. And indeed, for those of us who have long wanted to justify the purchase of an all white 3DS XL, which will not be released in America, this is great news.

Unfortunately, the reality is, most people are not nearly as thoughtful, and are eager to dive heardfirst into its library, but without paying a single red cent.

Piracy has long been a thorn in the side of Nintendo's side; over the years, they've tried to get laws passed in their native land of Japan, to apprehend and incarcerate those who distribute flash cards, commonly known as R4s. Though the true extend of damage that such paraphernalia (some people believe that they do more good than actual harm) has yet to be truly determined.