Online support for the Nintendo Wii ended in November 2014, a mere 8 years after the console launched. The 3DS and Wii U followed suit in April of 2024. Thousands of other devices have had their functionality stripped with updates and the discontinuation of online services. But what if it didn’t have to be this way? What if the user could breathe new life into their purchased electronics?

Note that this piece does not advocate for the piracy or illegal downloads of copyrighted material. All material should be owned by the user if they are to be copied onto a new device.

I started my journey of jailbreaking with an old 2DS XL in high school. I added new functionalities that were completely legal. For example, all 3DS models have GBA support baked into the hardware, jailbreaking the firmware allowed me to play my legally acquired ROMs on my 2DS. Shortly after, I followed up with the Wii I had lying around. This one was tougher because I didn’t have the right hardware to get it 100% jailbroken, but it could still play homebrew software. Homebrew is any software for a console that was created by the community, not established publishers.

Homebrew software can do amazing things, whether it be emulators or bringing back the online functionality. These developers are inspiring to me. They often have to figure out decades-old hardware, with no financial incentive, as a hobby. All for the community. 

Jailbreaking may be most popular for game consoles, but other devices are often exploited in this way. One example that comes to mind is the Amazon Kindle. Out of the box, the Kindle is meant to be an e-reader. However, the main functionality is to be a storefront for Amazon to sell you their books. Hell, the stock Kindle shows advertisements for books on the home screen, on a device that costs over one hundred dollars. With custom firmware, one can change the lock screen to anything they want. Such as making it the cover of the last book read on the device. Anyone can also install whatever PDFs or EPUBs they might (legally) own. It’s completely fine to modify your devices in these ways, however, there are certain risks to the devices themselves in some cases.

Modifying any electronic device carries the risk of bricking, or irreparably damaging, the electronics. Usually, the chance for bricking is low if you follow all of the instructions to a T, but the risk is always there. That’s why I recommend that if you do decide to pull the trigger on a jailbreak, research as much as you can on how it works. If you’re still unsure or not tech-savvy, get someone to do it for you. I also would not recommend modifying any device that you use in your daily life, such as cell phones or computers. It’s like trying to put nitrous in the Camry you drive to work every day. If something goes wrong, you’re screwed and have to buy a new one. Devices like game consoles and e-readers are not required for daily life, making them low-risk and high-reward. 

In conclusion, jailbreaking is a completely legal operation. While it may pose some risk to the devices, the rewards one can reap are worth it. Whether it be breathing life into an unsupported console, or taking full control of a device you paid for from a greedy corporation.