Skip to main content

Modders miffed: Teardown shows NES Classic Edition will be difficult to hack

nes classic edition will be difficult to hack teardown reveals nesclassicinnards
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Gamers awaiting the upcoming release of Nintendo’s NES Classic Edition plug-and-play console got an early look at its underlying technology this week when GameSpot’s senior reviews editor Peter Brown tweeted a photo of the miniature unit’s internal circuit board.

Fans hoping to hack the console to run games it wasn’t designed to play may be out of luck, however, as the NES Classic Edition’s design will likely prevent any attempts at softmodding.

As expected, the NES Classic Edition does not share any hardware in common with its 1980s-era predecessor, the Nintendo Entertainment System. Instead, Nintendo opted to deliver its included titles via emulation, and the device’s internal configuration favors simplicity, limiting the options available to amateur console modders.

Notably, the NES Classic Edition stores its games and emulation software on a flash memory chip, making it difficult if not impossible to mod the system without physically cracking it open and breaking warranty in the process.

“Unless you want to desolder flash memory from the motherboard,” Brown said, “it looks like it’s impossible to add new games to NES Classic.”

“The NES mini will not be much fun to hack I’m afraid,” Twitter user ArcadeTV adds. “The 4GBit Flash has an OTP-Area with security features that are not in the Datasheet.”

Console modding enthusiasts once held out hope that the NES Classic Edition would be as easy to hack as Nintendo’s Wii and Wii U consoles. Hackers previously devised softmodding solutions for both consoles, allowing users to jailbreak their units to enable region-free gaming and homebrew support, among other unintended features.

Wii and Wii U softmodding technology later progressed to the point where users could mod their systems simply by inserting an SD card loaded with exploit software. Wii U users in particular have a lot to gain by modding their systems, as the console boasts the ability to play Nintendo’s entire library of GameCube games natively after jailbreaking.

The NES Classic Edition, which includes a selection of 30 pre-installed 8-bit games, launches at retail in North America and Europe on November 11.

Danny Cowan
Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…
Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed remakes are in the works
Basim perched on a ledge overlooking Baghdad

In a company interview with CEO Yves Guillemot posted on the Ubisoft website Thursday, the executive reveals that there are remakes of Assassin's Creed games in the works, although he doesn't specify which ones.

"Players can be excited about some remakes, which will allow us to revisit some of the games we've created in the past and modernize them," he says, implying that it could pertain to games made before Odyssey. "There are worlds in some of our older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich."

Read more
Surfaced patent shows what an Xbox streaming console would’ve looked like
An Xbox Series X sits next to both Series S models.

There have been a few Xbox devices that have never come to fruition, one of which was Keystone, a prototype for an affordable game streaming device you could hook up to your TV or monitor. Thanks to a surfaced patent, we've gotten an even closer look at what it would've potentially looked like.

The patent, first spotted by Windows Central, gives us a more complete view of the device. We've previously seen the Keystone in the flesh. Microsoft Gaming head Phil Spencer is known for hiding teases and interesting collectibles on the shelf in his office. In a 2022 X (formerly Twitter) post congratulating Bethesda on Fallout's 25th anniversary, you can see a small white device on the top shelf that's actually a Keystone prototype. Xbox told Digital Trends that it was a version of the device made before it decided to "refocus our efforts on a new approach.”

Read more
Wordle Today: Wordle answer and hints for June 28
Someone playing Wordle on a smartphone.

We have the solution to Wordle on June 28, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We've placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don't ruin the surprise before you've had a chance to work through the clues. So let's dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday's answer.
Yesterday's Wordle answer
Let's start by first reminding ourselves of yesterday's Wordle answer for those new to the game or who don't play it daily, which was "ORDER." So we can say that the Wordle answer today definitely isn't that. Now, with that in mind, perhaps take another stab at it using one of these Wordle starting words and circle back if you have no luck.
Hints for today's Wordle
Still can't figure it out? We have today's Wordle answer right here, below. But first, one more thing: Let's take a look at three hints that could help you find the solution, without giving it away, so there's no need to feel guilty about keeping your streak alive -- you put in some work, after all! Or just keep scrolling for the answer.

Today’s Wordle includes the letter D.
Today’s Wordle uses two vowels.
Today's Wordle can refer to a large number of animals, particularly livestock like cattle or sheep, that are moving together in a group.

Read more