The Gamecard ASIC (known internally as the LOTUS3) is a separate chip on the motherboard responsible for communicating with the Gamecard.
It is the Tegra's SDMMC2 device on the Switch and FS communicates with it using a custom protocol based on vendor specific MMC commands.
Protocol
All communication is done using the following MMC_SEND_MANUFACTURER commands.
| Command | Name |
|---|---|
| 60 | #WriteOperation |
| 61 | #FinishOperation |
| 62 | #Sleep |
| 63 | #UpdateKey |
WriteOperation
Submits a Gamecard ASIC operation using a 0x40 byte sized buffer as follows.
OperationBuffer
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command |
| 0x1 | 0x1F | Operation specific data |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value (secure mode only) |
FinishOperation
Returns the status of a completed operation.
Sleep
Puts the Gamecard ASIC in sleep mode.
UpdateKey
Tells the Gamecard ASIC to generate new random key data.
ASIC commands
The Gamecard ASIC supports a total of 19 operation commands. These commands are passed to the ASIC using the #WriteOperation MMC command.
Additional data buffers are then read/written using standard MMC read/write commands.
| Command | Name |
|---|---|
| 0x01 | #SetUserAsicFirmware |
| 0x02 | #GetAsicCert |
| 0x03 | #SetEmmcEmbeddedSocCertificate |
| 0x04 | #GetAsicEncryptedMessage |
| 0x05 | #SetLibraryEncryptedMessage |
| 0x06 | #GetAsicAuthenticationData |
| 0x07 | #SetAsicAuthenticationDataHash |
| 0x08 | #SetLibraryAuthenticationData |
| 0x09 | #GetLibraryAuthenticationDataHash |
| 0x0A | #EnterSecureAsicMode |
| 0x0B | #WriteAsicRegister |
| 0x0C | #ReadAsicRegister |
| 0x0D | #ChangeDebugMode |
| 0x0E | #GetCardHeader |
| 0x0F | #GetCardKeyArea |
| 0x10 | #SendCardCommand |
| 0x11 | #EnableCardBus |
| 0x12 | #ExchangeRandomValuesInSecureMode |
| 0x13 | #GetRmaInformation |
| 0x14 | [9.0.0+] #ChallengeCardExistence |
SetUserAsicFirmware
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to receive a 0x7800 byte sized buffer containing the ASIC's user firmware.
GetAsicCert
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to send a 0x400 byte sized buffer containing the ASIC's certificate.
SetEmmcEmbeddedSocCertificate
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to receive a 0x400 byte sized buffer containing the certificate from GetGameCardCertificate.
GetAsicEncryptedMessage
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to send a 0x100 byte sized buffer containing a RSA-OAEP encrypted message to be decrypted by the host library. The decrypted message will be used to generate a common AES-128 (CBC and CTR) key and IV/CTR shared between the ASIC and the host library.
SetLibraryEncryptedMessage
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to receive a 0x100 byte sized buffer containing a RSA-OAEP encrypted message to be decrypted by the ASIC. The decrypted message will be used to generate a common AES-128 (CBC and CTR) key and IV/CTR shared between the ASIC and the host library.
GetAsicAuthenticationData
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to send a 0x20 byte sized buffer containing AES-128-CBC encrypted authentication data to be decrypted and hashed by the host library.
SetAsicAuthenticationDataHash
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to receive a 0x20 byte sized buffer containing the AES-128-CBC encrypted hash of the ASIC authentication data.
SetLibraryAuthenticationData
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to receive a 0x20 byte sized buffer containing AES-128-CBC encrypted authentication data to be decrypted and hashed by the ASIC.
GetLibraryAuthenticationDataHash
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to send a 0x20 byte sized buffer containing the AES-128-CBC encrypted hash of the library authentication data.
EnterSecureAsicMode
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to enter secure mode. In secure mode, all communication with the Gamecard ASIC must be AES-128-CTR encrypted.
WriteAsicRegister
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to write an internal register. The register value is passed in the first word of a 0x200 byte sized buffer while the register index is passed in the actual #OperationBuffer as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x0B) |
| 0x1 | 0x3 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Gamecard ASIC register index |
| 0x8 | 0x18 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
ReadAsicRegister
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to send a 0x30 byte sized buffer containing the values of all ASIC registers as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x4 | Status |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Access Control |
| 0x8 | 0x4 | |
| 0xC | 0x4 | |
| 0x10 | 0x4 | |
| 0x14 | 0x4 | |
| 0x18 | 0x4 | |
| 0x1C | 0x4 | |
| 0x20 | 0x4 | |
| 0x24 | 0x4 | |
| 0x28 | 0x4 | |
| 0x2C | 0x4 |
ChangeDebugMode
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to change into debug mode and send a 0x200 byte sized buffer containing information on the current Gamecard.
GetCardHeader
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to send a 0x108 byte sized buffer containing the current Gamecard's header data as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x4 | CUP Version |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Gamecard ID1 |
| 0x8 | 0x100 | Gamecard Header (without the signature) |
GetCardKeyArea
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to send a 0x800 byte sized buffer containing the current Gamecard's key area sectors as follows.
| Sector | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0x200 | Gamecard specific data |
| 1 | 0x200 | Gamecard Certificate |
| 2 | 0x200 | Empty sector (all 0xFF) |
| 3 | 0x200 | Gamecard Initial Data |
SendCardCommand
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to relay a specific command to the Gamecard. The command is sent to the Gamecard using the #OperationBuffer as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Page size |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Direction (0 = read, 1 = write) |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Page count |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command |
| 0x9 | 0x17 | Command specific data |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
EnableCardBus
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to enable the current Gamecard's bus line.
ExchangeRandomValuesInSecureMode
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to exchange random authentication values with the current Gamecard. The Gamecard response values are returned in a 0x20 sized buffer while the host values are passed in the actual #OperationBuffer as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x12) |
| 0x1 | 0x1F | Random value from host |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
GetRmaInformation
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to send a 0x200 byte sized buffer containing information on the Gamecard ASIC. This is called by GetGameCardAsicInfo.
ChallengeCardExistence
Signals the Gamecard ASIC to exchange random values with the current Gamecard. The Gamecard response values are returned in a 0x58 sized buffer while the host values are passed in the actual #OperationBuffer as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x14) |
| 0x1 | 0x1F | Random value from host |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
Gamecard commands
These commands are issued by the Gamecard ASIC to the actual Gamecard using the #OperationBuffer passed to #SendCardCommand.
Additional data buffers are then read/written using standard MMC read/write commands.
| Command | Name |
|---|---|
| 0x10 | #ReadId1Writer |
| 0x11 | #ReadId2Writer |
| 0x12 | #ReadId3Writer |
| 0x15 | #ReadCrc |
| 0x16 | #WritePage |
| 0x18 | #Erase |
| 0x19 | #ReadDevParam |
| 0x20 | #WriteDevParam |
| 0x21 | #ReadPageSecure |
| 0x28 | #ReadId2Normal |
| 0x2E | [2.0.0+] #UnlockForceErase |
| 0x30 | #ReadId3Secure |
| 0x39 | #SetKey |
| 0x56 | #ReadId1Normal |
| 0x83 | #WritePageSecure |
| 0x5B | #ReadPage |
| 0x67 | #ReadId1Secure |
| 0xA5 | #ReadId3Normal |
| 0xB8 | #Refresh |
| 0xC4 | #ReadId2Secure |
| 0xE0 | ReadInitialData |
| 0xE2 | ChangeInitialData |
ReadId1Normal, ReadId1Secure, ReadId1Writer
Returns the Gamecard ID1 under one of the valid Gamecard modes.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 1 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x10, 0x56 or 0x67) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0xD | 0x2 | Set to 0 |
| 0xF | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
ReadId2Normal, ReadId2Secure, ReadId2Writer
Returns the Gamecard ID2 under one of the valid Gamecard modes.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 1 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x11, 0x28 or 0xC4) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0xD | 0x2 | Set to 0 |
| 0xF | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
ReadId3Normal, ReadId3Secure, ReadId3Writer
Returns the Gamecard ID3 under one of the valid Gamecard modes.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 1 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x12, 0x30 or 0xA5) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0xD | 0x2 | Set to 0 |
| 0xF | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
ReadCrc
Reads pages from the Gamecard, calculates their CRC and returns it. This command is only available in Write mode.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 1 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x15) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Gamecard page offset |
| 0xD | 0x3 | Gamecard page count |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
WritePage, WritePageSecure
Writes Gamecard pages. This command is only available in Write and Secure modes.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 3 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 1 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Gamecard page count (duplicate) |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x16 or 0x83) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Gamecard page offset |
| 0xD | 0x3 | Gamecard page count |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
ReadPage, ReadPageSecure
Reads Gamecard pages. This command is only available in Normal and Secure modes.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 3 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Gamecard page count (duplicate) |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x21 or 0x5B) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Gamecard page offset |
| 0xD | 0x3 | Gamecard page count |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
Erase
Fully erases a Gamecard's contents. This command is only available in Write mode.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 1 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x18) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0xD | 0x2 | Set to 0 |
| 0xF | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
ReadDevParam
Reads a development Gamecard's parameters. This command is only available in Write mode.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 3 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Set to 1 |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x19) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0xD | 0x2 | Set to 0 |
| 0xF | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
WriteDevParam
Writes a development Gamecard's parameters. This command is only available in Write mode.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 3 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 1 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Set to 1 |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x20) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0xD | 0x2 | Set to 0 |
| 0xF | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
SetKey
Sets the Gamecard's internal key data. This command is only available in Secure mode.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x39) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0xD | 0x2 | Set to 0 |
| 0xF | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
Refresh
Resets the Gamecard's internal status. This command is only available in Secure mode.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 2 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0xB8) |
| 0x9 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0xD | 0x2 | Set to 0 |
| 0xF | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x10 | 0x10 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
UnlockForceErase
Used by OpenGameCardStorage. This command is only available in Normal mode.
The #OperationBuffer is as follows.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x1 | Gamecard ASIC operation command (0x10) |
| 0x1 | 0x1 | Set to 1 |
| 0x2 | 0x1 | Set to 0 |
| 0x3 | 0x1 | Padding |
| 0x4 | 0x4 | Set to 0 |
| 0x8 | 0x1 | Gamecard command (0x2E) |
| 0x9 | 0xF | Unlock password |
| 0x18 | 0x8 | Empty |
| 0x20 | 0x20 | Command verification value |
Modes
Both the Gamecard ASIC and the actual Gamecard can operate in different modes.
ASIC modes
| Mode | Name |
|---|---|
| 0x00 | Initial |
| 0x01 | Secure |
Gamecard modes
| Mode | Name |
|---|---|
| 0x00 | Initial |
| 0x01 | Normal |
| 0x02 | Secure |
| 0x03 | Write |
User firmware
FS provides the appropriate Gamecard ASIC's user firmware (Lotus ASIC Firmware or LAFW) which is encrypted, signed and follows the format below.
| Offset | Size | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0x0 | 0x100 | RSA-2048 PKCS #1 signature over the firmware (data from 0x100 to 0x7800) |
| 0x100 | 0x4 | Magic ("LAFW") |
| 0x104 | 0x4 | Unknown (0xFF000000, 0xFFFF0000 or 0xFFFFFF00) |
| 0x108 | 0x4 | Empty |
| 0x10C | 0x4 | Empty |
| 0x110 | 0x4 | Version (0, 1, [4.0.0+] 3, [9.0.0+] 7) |
| 0x114 | 0x4 | Unknown (0x80000000) |
| 0x118 | 0x4 | Data size |
| 0x11C | 0x4 | Empty |
| 0x120 | 0x10 | Encrypted data IV/CTR |
| 0x130 | 0x10 | Placeholder string ("IDIDIDIDIDIDIDID") |
| 0x140 | 0x40 | Empty |
| 0x180 | 0x7680 | Encrypted data |
Types
Depending on it's purpose, multiple user firmware blobs exist.
FwRead
Code for reading retail Gamecards. Only the normal and secure Gamecard modes are supported.
Found inside FS.
[4.0.0+] This firmware blob was updated to provide support for new Gamecards.
FwWriter
Code for writing development Gamecards. Only the normal and write Gamecard modes are supported.
Found inside FS.
FwReadDev
Code for reading development Gamecards. Development Gamecards use common initial data which justifies the need for a specialized read firmware.
Found inside FS.
FwDebug
Code for calling #GetRmaInformation. Must be passed as an argument for GetGameCardAsicInfo.
Never observed (possibly factory only).
Anti-downgrade
Loading an user firmware blob with a certain version field will lock the Gamecard ASIC to only allow running firmware blobs with the same or higher version number. Therefore, it is speculated that the Gamecard ASIC contains some sort of non-volatile memory bank which could be used for this purpose (among others).
The FwWriter and FwReadDev blobs' version is always 0, but FwRead blob's version is either 1 or 3 ([4.0.0+]). This effectively locks retail consoles from using the development firmware blobs.