Nintendo has stated that it did not intentionally compromise any third parties. switch 2 Dock the latest operating system updates for your hybrid console. However, the company's response uses some vague language, leaving some room for interpretation as to how it views some third-party Switch 2 accessories.
The latest version of Switch OS, identified by version number 21.0.0, was released internationally on Monday, November 10. Soon after, reports surfaced that some third-party Switch 2 docks were blocked by the November 2025 update.
Nintendo denies intentionally bricking third-party Switch 2 docks
The Japanese gaming giant has now denied knowingly disabling third-party Switch 2 dock functionality. “Nintendo has no intention of interfering with or invalidating legitimate third-party dock compatibility,” a company spokesperson told IGN. “Nintendo Switch 2 outputs audiovisual material when it detects that it is docked in the Nintendo Switch 2 Dock,” they wrote, adding that the original “Switch does the same.”
What Nintendo Means by a 'Legal' Switch 2 Dock
Officials did not explain exactly what “legal” meant in their statement. The Switch 2 user agreement makes no mention of first-party or third-party docks, but explicitly prohibits “the use of any hardware or software that causes the console or software to operate with unauthorized, illegal, or counterfeit software or hardware.” In this context, “legal” third-party accessories may be those that do not infringe Nintendo's intellectual property rights or violate anti-piracy laws in a particular jurisdiction.
Alternatively, “legal” may simply mean conforming to specifications. Nintendo doesn't officially support third-party docks for its latest consoles, but devices still rely on a combination of standard protocols and proprietary handshakes that accessory manufacturers can try to reverse-engineer, with varying degrees of success. Because the new Switch 2 firmware update hasn't stopped every In the case of third-party docks, the changes introduced will likely break devices built on weaker and “hackier” implementations of that handshake, leaving more robust and technically sophisticated approaches unaffected.
Nintendo does not intend to interfere with or invalidate legitimate third-party dock compatibility.
Why Nintendo has little incentive to intentionally disable third-party Switch 2 docks
Nintendo doesn't offer an official certification program for third-party Switch 2 docks, but there appears to be little incentive to intentionally disable legitimate third-party accessories. Some might argue that the company stands to profit by steering consumers toward the $124.99 official dock, but that accessory is already included with every Switch 2 device sold. There is also no evidence of significant demand for additional docks, suggesting that only a small number of users are looking for multiple docks. So Nintendo appears to have limited financial motivation to limit third-party Switch 2 dock compatibility.
- brand
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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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ownership
- solve
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1080p (portable) / 4K (docked)
- HDR support
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yes
