Nintendo Says It's Not Prohibiting Third-Party Switch 2 Docks After Players Report Bricking Issues

GAMING NEWS

The latest firmware update for the Switch and Switch 2 brought several welcome quality-of-life improvements—but many players quickly discovered an unfortunate side effect: numerous third-party docks suddenly stopped working. According to Nintendo, the issue wasn’t intentional.

In a statement, Nintendo reiterated the basics: “Nintendo Switch 2 outputs audiovisuals once it detects that it is docked into a Nintendo Switch 2 Dock. Nintendo Switch does the same, outputting audiovisuals once it detects that it is docked into a Nintendo Switch Dock.”

More importantly, Nintendo said it has “no intention to hinder or invalidate legal third-party dock compatibility.” The company did not clarify what qualifies as a “legal” dock.

After firmware version 21.0.0 rolled out on November 11, Switch 2 owners took to Reddit and other forums reporting that their third-party docks no longer functioned. Some docks still work, however, and manufacturers like Hagibis and Jemdo have issued firmware updates to restore compatibility.

Even if Nintendo didn’t intend to break anything, the sheer number of reports shows the update clearly affects how third-party docks interact with the system. And based on Nintendo’s statement, it seems unlikely the company will offer a fix—leaving dock makers responsible for patching their hardware.

Players often rely on third-party docks for affordability, travel, or multiple setups at home. But the Switch 2’s more restrictive USB-C port makes unofficial accessories harder to support.

While many third-party Switch 2 docks cost between $20 and $50, Nintendo’s official dock set—which includes a dock, USB-C cable, AC adapter, and an ultra-high-speed HDMI cable—costs $125 USD.

18 Best Nintendo Switch 2 Games To Play Right Now

3 min read · Nov 2025