diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 59022aa0..bc7f4683 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ mobile/ios/love-src/
 mobile/ios/cache/
 mobile/ios/build/
 
-# Final packaged build artifacts (mac/win/web/android/ios) — see scripts/build.sh
+# love-nx vendor binaries (fetch per docs/switch-development.md; also covered by .*)
+.bazinga/love-nx/
+
+# Final packaged build artifacts (mac/win/web/android/ios/switch) — see scripts/build.sh
 /dist/
 
 # Legacy manual convenience-copy location (superseded by /dist/android/)
diff --git a/docs/switch-development.md b/docs/switch-development.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a84029a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/switch-development.md
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# Nintendo Switch development (love-nx)
+
+Gen1Recomp on Nintendo Switch runs on a pinned [love-nx](https://github.com/retronx-team/love-nx) runtime. This document covers vendor layout, fetch instructions, and the Mac ↔ Switch transfer workflow.
+
+## love-nx 11.5-nx1 (pinned)
+
+**Tag:** [11.5-nx1](https://github.com/retronx-team/love-nx/releases/tag/11.5-nx1)
+
+**Local layout (not committed):**
+
+```text
+.bazinga/love-nx/11.5-nx1/
+├── love.nro    # homebrew launcher binary (loose mode: copied to gen1recomp.nro)
+└── love.elf    # required for fused NRO builds (devkitPro nacptool/elf2nro)
+```
+
+**Manifest:** `scripts/switch/love-nx-11.5-nx1.sha256` lists expected artifact names and SHA-256 checksums. Checksums are filled when binaries are fetched (`TBD_*` placeholders until then).
+
+### Fetch instructions
+
+1. Open the [11.5-nx1 release](https://github.com/retronx-team/love-nx/releases/tag/11.5-nx1) and download `love.nro` and `love.elf`.
+2. Create the directory: `mkdir -p .bazinga/love-nx/11.5-nx1`
+3. Move both files into that directory.
+4. Record checksums and update the manifest:
+
+   ```bash
+   shasum -a 256 .bazinga/love-nx/11.5-nx1/love.nro \
+     .bazinga/love-nx/11.5-nx1/love.elf
+   ```
+
+5. Replace the `TBD_*` lines in `scripts/switch/love-nx-11.5-nx1.sha256` with the real hashes.
+
+**Never commit** love-nx binaries, ROM dumps, or generated cache into git. The repo `.gitignore` excludes `.bazinga/` (vendor cache) and `/dist/` (build output).
+
+## Loose-mode dist layout
+
+Development builds place `gen1recomp.nro` and `game.love` side by side:
+
+```text
+dist/switch/loose/
+├── gen1recomp.nro
+└── game.love
+```
+
+Assemble with:
+
+```bash
+scripts/build_switch.sh --loose
+```
+
+(See `scripts/switch/assemble_loose.sh` for the underlying copy + checksum step.)
diff --git a/scripts/switch/love-nx-11.5-nx1.sha256 b/scripts/switch/love-nx-11.5-nx1.sha256
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ecc70557
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/switch/love-nx-11.5-nx1.sha256
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# love-nx 11.5-nx1 — pinned runtime artifacts (RetronX team)
+# https://github.com/retronx-team/love-nx/releases/tag/11.5-nx1
+#
+# Download love.nro and love.elf from the release above and place them under:
+#   .bazinga/love-nx/11.5-nx1/
+#
+# These binaries are NOT committed. After fetching, fill in the SHA-256 fields
+# below (run: shasum -a 256 .bazinga/love-nx/11.5-nx1/<file>).
+#
+# TODO: replace TBD placeholders once binaries are fetched on a developer machine.
+
+love.nro  TBD_SHA256_LOVE_NRO
+love.elf  TBD_SHA256_LOVE_ELF