Nintendo Switch 2 owners report that some of their third-party accessories and console docks appear to have been bricked after the 21.0.0 system update. The Switch 2 update launched on November 10, which largely brought stability improvements and improvements to existing features such as text-to-speech and software downloads.
The Switch 2 was a huge success for Nintendo and was embraced by many gamers around the world. However, some would point to the overall cost as a drawback. For example, the console itself costs $449.99, and some games have been marked down to $80. This has led some to look for cheaper options for Switch 2 accessories such as its dock. Non-brand Switch 2 compatible docks can be found for under $40 in many cases, while the official Switch 2 Dock Set costs $125.
Third-party docks reportedly inherited from the recent Nintendo Switch 2 update
While the latest 21.0.0 update for the Nintendo Switch 2 didn't mention anything about the dock, something about it seems to have affected third-party devices. Switch 2 users took to social media soon after the update went live, with many reporting that their third-party docks and other accessories were no longer working properly. Subsequent reports indicated that some third-party Switch 2 docks still work, but not all, and those that do sometimes require a full reboot of the console first to work properly.
It is unclear at this time if this aspect of the update was an intentional move on Nintendo's part, and the company did not provide any additional information at the time of publication. However, the idea that third-party accessories would become incompatible with the Switch 2 raised concerns shortly after the system's launch. Third-party accessory makers have previously claimed that the Switch 2's USB-C port uses encryption and a chip that limits which accessories work with the system. It was thought that a firmware update could potentially change the way these systems work, so even third-party Switch 2 accessories that worked at one time could potentially be blocked.
It's possible that the manufacturers of these devices could fix the problem, or Nintendo could release another patch to fix the problem, as this could have been a completely unintentional move on the company's part. Nintendo has not yet taken legal action against any Switch 2 accessory manufacturer, except for Genki. However, Genki's lawsuit was due to alleged trademark infringement, not the simple manufacture of an off-brand compatible accessory. On the other hand, simply mass-modifying the Switch 2 consoles to stop being compatible would be an easier and cheaper method of ensuring that Nintendo doesn't have competition from third-party manufacturers than suing.
- Mark
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Nintendo
- Original release date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- Operating system
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Proprietary
- Resolution
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR support
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Yes
