/portable/mods/contents/<TitleID>/<ModName>/cheats/<BuildID>.pchtxt
In the world of Nintendo Switch homebrew and game modification, few tools are as powerful yet misunderstood as switch-ptchtxt-mods. If you have ever downloaded a game mod that came with a strange .pchtxt file instead of the usual exefs folder, you have encountered this system.
Simply put, a switch-ptchtxt-mod is a text-based patching method used by atmosphere (the most popular custom firmware) to modify a game’s executable code (the main program) while it loads into memory. Unlike traditional layeredFS mods that replace assets like textures or models, pchtxt mods perform IPS (International Patching System) style patches on the running executable.
This article will take you from absolute beginner to advanced user. We will cover what these mods are, how to install them, how to create your own, and why they are essential for cheats, quality-of-life fixes, and even translation patches.
@enabled 00FF00 01 23 45 00FF04 89 AB CD @stop switch-ptchtxt-mods
Let’s break down the components:
Note: Addresses in pchtxt are usually relative to the NSO base, not absolute memory addresses.
Historically, game patching involved IPS or BPS files that modified static ROM data. The Switch, however, uses dynamic memory and ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization). You can't just say "change byte at 0x12345678" because that address changes every time you boot the game. In the world of Nintendo Switch homebrew and
pchtxt (Patch Text) solves this via pattern scanning. Instead of a hardcoded address, a pchtxt patch contains:
When Atmosphère’s loader module launches a game, it reads all .pchtxt files from /atmosphere/contents/<TitleID>/exefs/. It then:
In games utilizing the "HD-2D" art style (such as Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy, or Live A Live), textures are often stored in proprietary container formats or standard formats with header obfuscation. @enabled 00FF00 01 23 45 00FF04 89 AB CD @stop
Modifying these assets involves three stages:
Installing a switch-ptchtxt-mod is straightforward, but one mistake can crash the game. Follow carefully: