How to Download and Play Rune Factory 5 XCI on Nintendo Switch
Rune Factory 5 is the latest entry in the popular simulation RPG series that combines farming, crafting, combat, romance, and adventure. It was released for the Nintendo Switch on May 20, 2021 in Japan; March 22, 2022 in North America; March 25, 2022 in Europe.
If you are a fan of Rune Factory or want to try out this charming game, you might be wondering how you can download and play it on your Switch. One way to do that is by using an XCI file, which is a backup of a Switch game card in the NX Card Image format. In this article, we will show you what an XCI file is, how it works, what you need to play it on your Switch, how to dump your own XCI files from game cards, how to install and play them on your Switch, and how to update and add DLCs to your XCI games.
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What is an XCI file and how does it work?
An XCI file is a file that contains the contents of a Nintendo Switch game card in the NX Card Image format. It stores an encrypted backup of a Nintendo Switch game, which includes the Switch game ROM, icons, and metadata. XCI files may also be used to contain updates and DLCs for a Switch game.
The benefits and risks of using XCI files
Using XCI files has some benefits and risks that you should be aware of before deciding to use them. Here are some of them:
Benefits:
You can play games that are not available in your region or have not been released yet.
You can save space on your Switch internal storage or microSD card by playing games from a USB drive.
You can preserve your game cards from wear and tear by playing backups instead.
You can play games without inserting the game card every time.
Risks:
You may violate the terms of service of Nintendo and risk getting banned from online services if you use pirated or illegal XCI files.
You may damage your Switch console or lose your data if you use corrupted or malicious XCI files.
You may encounter compatibility issues or bugs if you use outdated or modified XCI files.
Therefore, we recommend that you only use XCI files if you own the original game cards and only for personal use. We do not condone piracy or illegal What do you need to play XCI files on Switch?
To play XCI files on your Switch, you will need the following things:
A hackable Switch console
Not all Switch consoles can run XCI files, as they require a custom firmware that bypasses the official Nintendo firmware. To install a custom firmware, you will need a hackable Switch console, which means one that has an exploitable hardware vulnerability in the Nvidia Tegra X1 chip. This vulnerability allows you to run unsigned code on your Switch, which is necessary for installing and running a custom firmware.
The hackable Switch consoles are the ones that were manufactured before July 2018, which have the serial numbers starting with XAW1, XAW4, or XAW7. You can check your Switch serial number on the back of your console or on the box. If your serial number is in the green or orange range, then your Switch is hackable. If it is in the red range, then your Switch is not hackable and cannot run XCI files.
A microSD card and a USB reader
You will also need a microSD card and a USB reader to store and transfer your XCI files. The microSD card should have enough space to hold your XCI files, which can range from a few gigabytes to tens of gigabytes depending on the game. The USB reader should be compatible with your computer and your Switch.
A custom firmware such as SX OS
A custom firmware is a modified version of the official Nintendo firmware that allows you to run homebrew applications and games on your Switch. There are several custom firmware options available for the Switch, such as Atmosphère, ReiNX, and SX OS. However, not all of them support XCI files. The most popular and reliable custom firmware that supports XCI files is SX OS, which is developed by Team Xecuter. SX OS has many features and advantages over other custom firmware, such as:
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It supports both XCI and NSP (Nintendo Submission Package) formats for games.
It allows you to install and play XCI files from a USB drive or over USB without copying them to your microSD card.
It has a built-in game installer that can update and add DLCs to your XCI games.
It has an emuNAND feature that creates a virtual copy of your Switch NAND (internal memory) on your microSD card, which protects your original NAND from being corrupted or banned.
It has a stealth mode that prevents Nintendo from detecting your custom firmware and blocking online services.
To use SX OS, you will need to purchase a license key from Team Xecuter's website, which costs $29.99 USD. You will also need to download the latest version of SX OS from their website and copy it to your microSD card.
A backup of your Switch NAND (optional)
Before you install any custom firmware or run any XCI files on your Switch, it is highly recommended that you make a backup of your Switch NAND (internal memory), which contains all your system data and settings. This backup can help you restore your Switch to its original state in case something goes wrong or you want to remove the custom firmware. To make a backup of your Switch NAND, you will need to use a payload injector such as RCM Loader One or TegraRcmGUI to launch Hekate, which is a bootloader that can perform various tasks on your Switch. Hekate has an option to dump your NAND to your microSD card, which can take up to 30 minutes depending on the size of your NAND.
Decryption keys for your Switch games
To play XCI files on your Switch, you will also need the decryption keys for your Switch games, which are used to decrypt and extract the game data from the XCI files. These keys are unique for each game and each console, so you cannot use someone else's keys. To get the decryption keys for your games, you will need to use Lockpick_RCM, which is a payload that can dump the keys from your Switch console. You will need to launch Lockpick_RCM using a payload injector such as RCM Loader One or TegraRcmGUI. Lockpick_RCM will create a file called prod.keys on your microSD card, which contains all the keys for your games. How to dump your own XCI files from game cards
If you own the original game cards for Rune Factory 5 or any other Switch game, you can dump your own XCI files from them using either SX OS or hactool. Here are the steps for each method:
Using SX OS to dump game cards to XCI files
SX OS has a built-in game dumper that can dump your game cards to XCI files on your microSD card or USB drive. To use it, follow these steps:
Insert your game card into your Switch console and make sure it is recognized by the system.
Insert your microSD card or USB drive into your Switch console and make sure it has enough space to hold the XCI file.
Launch SX OS on your Switch console by holding the Volume + button while powering on.
Select the Album icon from the home screen to enter the SX OS menu.
Select the Game Card icon from the SX OS menu to enter the game dumper.
Select Dump Cartridge to XCI and choose the destination for your XCI file (microSD card or USB drive).
Wait for the dumping process to finish, which can take several minutes depending on the size of the game.
Once done, you will see a message saying "Dumping completed!" and you can eject your game card and microSD card or USB drive.
Using hactool to decrypt and extract XCI files
hactool is a command-line tool that can decrypt and extract various Switch file formats, including XCI files. To use it, you will need a Windows PC, a USB reader, and your prod.keys file. Follow these steps:
Download hactool from its GitHub page and extract it to a folder on your PC.
Copy your prod.keys file to the same folder as hactool.
Insert your game card into your USB reader and connect it to your PC.
Open a command prompt window and navigate to the folder where hactool is located.
Type the following command to decrypt and extract the XCI file from your game card: hactool -k prod.keys --intype=xci --updatedir=update --normaldir=normal --securedir=secure --logodir=logo xci_file, where xci_file is the path to your game card (e.g. F:\game.xci).
Wait for the decryption and extraction process to finish, which can take several minutes depending on the size of the game.
Once done, you will see a message saying "Done!" and you can eject your game card and USB reader.
How to install and play XCI files on Switch
Once you have your XCI files ready, you can install and play them on your Switch using either SX OS or Awoo Installer or Tinfoil. Here are the steps for each method:
Using SX OS to install XCI files over USB or from a USB drive
SX OS has a feature called USB Install that allows you to install XCI files over USB from your PC or from a USB drive connected to your Switch. This is the fastest and easiest way to install XCI files, as you don't need to copy them to your microSD card. To use it, follow these steps:
Launch SX OS on your Switch console by holding the Volume + button while powering on.
Select the Album icon from the home screen to enter the SX OS menu.
Select the Installer icon from the SX OS menu to enter the game installer.
If you want to install XCI files over USB from your PC, connect your Switch to your PC using a USB-C cable and launch SX Installer on your PC. If you want to install XCI files from a USB drive, connect your USB drive to your Switch using a USB-A to USB-C adapter.
Select the source of your XCI files (USB or HDD) and browse through the list of available games.
Select the game you want to install and press A to start the installation.
Wait for the installation process to finish, which can take several minutes depending on the size of the game.
Once done, you will see a message saying "Installation completed!" and you can launch the game from the home screen.
Using Awoo Installer or Tinfoil to install XCI files from your microSD card
Awoo Installer and Tinfoil are homebrew applications that can install XCI files from your microSD card or over USB. They are similar in functionality, but Awoo Installer is more user-friendly and has less compatibility issues. To use them, follow these steps:
Copy your XCI files to a folder named "xci" on the root of your microSD card.
Launch SX OS on your Switch console by holding the Volume + button while powering on.
Select the Album icon from the home screen to enter the SX OS menu.
Select the Homebrew icon from the SX OS menu to enter the homebrew launcher.
Select Awoo Installer or Tinfoil from the list of available homebrew applications and press A to launch it.
Select SD Card as the source of your XCI files and browse through the list of available games.
Select the game you want to install and press A to start the installation.
Wait for the installation process to finish, which can take several minutes depending on the size of the game.
Once done, you will see a message saying "Installation completed!" and you can launch the game from the home screen.
How to update and add DLCs to your XCI games
If you want to update your XCI games or add DLCs to them, you can do so using either SX OS or Awoo Installer or Tinfoil. Here are the steps for each method:
Using SX OS to update and add DLCs from a USB drive or over USB
SX OS has a built-in game installer that can update and add DLCs to your XCI games from a USB drive or over USB. To use it, follow these steps:
Download the update or DLC files for your XCI game from a reputable source and copy them to your USB drive or PC.
Launch SX OS on your Switch console by holding the Volume + button while powering on.
Select the Album icon from the home screen to enter the SX OS menu.
Select the Installer icon from the SX OS menu to enter the game installer.
If you want to update or add DLCs from a USB drive, connect your USB drive to your Switch using a USB-A to USB-C adapter. If you want to update or add DLCs over USB from your PC, connect your Switch to your PC using a USB-C cable and launch SX Installer on your PC.
Select the source of your update or DLC files (USB or HDD) and browse through the list of available games.
Select the game you want to update or add DLCs to and press A to enter the game details.
Select Update or DLC from the game details and press A to start the installation.
Wait for the installation process to finish, which can take several minutes depending on the size of the update or DLC.
Once done, you will see a message saying "Installation completed!" and you can launch the game from the home screen.
Using Awoo Installer or Tinfoil to update and add DLCs from your microSD card or over USB
Awoo Installer and Tinfoil can also update and add DLCs to your XCI games from your microSD card or over USB. To use them, follow these steps:
Download the update or DLC files for your XCI game from a reputable source and copy them to a folder named "updates" or "dlcs" on the root of your microSD card.
Launch SX OS on your Switch console by holding the Volume + button while powering on.
Select the Album icon from the home screen to enter the SX OS menu.
Select the Homebrew icon from the SX OS menu to enter the homebrew launcher.
Select Awoo Installer or Tinfoil from the list of available homebrew applications and press A to launch it.
Select SD Card or USB as the source of your update or DLC files and browse through the list of available games.
Select the game you want to update or add DLCs to and press A to enter the game details.
Select Update or DLC from the game details and press A to start the installation.
Wait for the installation process to finish, which can take several minutes depending on the size of the update or DLC.
Once done, you will see a message saying "Installation completed!" and you can launch the game from the home screen.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and play Rune Factory 5 XCI on your Nintendo Switch. We have explained what an XCI file is, how it works, what you need to play it on your Switch, how to dump your own XCI files from game cards, how to install and play them on your Switch, and how to update and add DLCs to your XCI games. We hope you have found this article helpful and informative.
If you are interested in playing Rune Factory 5 or any other Switch game using XCI files, you can follow the steps we have outlined above. However, please remember that using XCI files has some benefits and risks that you should be aware of before deciding to use them. We recommend that you only use XCI files if you own the original game cards and only for personal use. We do not condone piracy or illegal activities.
Thank you for reading this article and happy gaming!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about downloading and playing Rune Factory 5 XCI on Nintendo Switch:
Q: Can I play online with XCI files?
A: Playing online with XCI files is possible, but not recommended. There is a high risk of getting banned from Nintendo's online services if you use pirated or illegal XCI files. Even if you use legitimate XCI files, you may still get banned if Nintendo detects your custom firmware or any suspicious activity on your Switch. Therefore, we advise you to avoid playing online with XCI files and use a separate Switch console for online gaming.
Q: Can I play Rune Factory 5 in English with XCI files?
A: Yes, you can play Rune Factory 5 in English with XCI files. The game has an English language option that you can select from the settings menu. However, you will need to download the latest update for the game to enable the English option, as it was not available in the initial release of the game.
Q: Can I transfer my save data from Rune Factory 4 Special to Rune Factory 5 with XCI files?
A: Yes, you can transfer your save data from Rune Factory 4 Special to Rune Factory 5 with XCI files. The game has a feature that allows you to import your save data from Rune Factory 4 Special and unlock some bonuses in Rune Factory 5. However, you will need to have both games installed on the same Switch console and use the same user account to transfer your save data.
Q: Can I use cheats or mods with XCI files?
A: Yes, you can use cheats or mods with XCI files. SX OS has a cheat engine that allows you to apply cheats to your XCI games. You can also use mods or patches that modify the game data or add new features to your XCI games. However, please be careful when using cheats or mods, as they may cause compatibility issues or bugs with your games.
Q: Can I delete or uninstall XCI files from my Switch?
A: Yes, you can delete or uninstall XCI files from your Switch. If you installed your XCI files using SX OS, you can delete them from the SX OS menu by selecting the game and pressing Y. If you installed your XCI files using Awoo Installer or Tinfoil, you can uninstall them from the system settings by selecting Data Management > Manage Software > Delete Software. 44f88ac181
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