Nintendo Responds to Claims of Switch 2 Update Breaking Third-Party Docks

Nintendo says it did not intentionally break third-party Switch 2 docks with the latest operating system update for its hybrid console. However, the company’s response uses some ambiguous language, leaving room for interpretation regarding how it views select third-party Switch 2 accessories.

Identified by version number 21.0.0, the newest iteration of the Switch OS rolled out internationally on Monday, November 10. Soon after, reports surfaced alleging that the November 2025 update had bricked some third-party Switch 2 docks.

Nintendo Denies Intentionally Bricking Third-Party Switch 2 Docks

The Japanese gaming giant has now denied disabling third-party Switch 2 dock functionality on purpose. “Nintendo does not have any intention to hinder or invalidate legal third-party dock compatibility,” a company representative told IGN. “Nintendo Switch 2 outputs audiovisuals once it detects that it is docked into a Nintendo Switch 2 Dock,” they clarified, adding that the original “Switch does the same.”

What Nintendo Might Mean by a ‘Legal’ Switch 2 Dock

The official did not explain what exactly “legal” means in the context of their statement. Although the Switch 2 User Agreement makes no mention of either first- or third-party docks, it does explicitly prohibit “use of any hardware or software that would cause the Console or the Software to operate with any unauthorized, illegal, or pirated software or hardware.” In this context, a “legal” third-party accessory could be one that does not infringe on Nintendo’s intellectual property or violates anti-piracy laws in a given jurisdiction.

Alternatively, “legal” could simply refer to being spec-compliant. While Nintendo does not officially support third-party docks for its latest console, the device still relies on a combination of standard protocols and proprietary handshakes that accessory makers can attempt to reverse-engineer, with varying degrees of success. Because the new Switch 2 firmware update did not break all third-party docks, it’s possible that the changes it introduced disrupted devices built around more fragile, “hacky” implementations of that handshake, while leaving more robust and technically sophisticated approaches unaffected.

Why Nintendo Has Little Incentive to Deliberately Disable Third-Party Switch 2 Docks

Although Nintendo does not offer an official certification program for third-party Switch 2 docks, it appears to have little incentive to intentionally disable legitimate third-party accessories. While some might argue that the company could benefit from steering consumers toward its $124.99 official dock, that accessory is already included with every Switch 2 unit sold. There is also no evidence of significant demand for additional docks, suggesting that users seeking multiples are a small minority. As such, Nintendo seemingly has limited financial motivation to restrict third-party Switch 2 dock compatibility.

Brand

Nintendo

Original Release Date

June 5, 2025

Original MSRP (USD)

$449.99

Operating System

Proprietary

Resolution

1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)

HDR Support

Yes