A recent Nintendo Switch 2 system update (version 21.0.0) has left many owners unable to get video output from third‑party docking accessories, prompting confusion, angry reports from users and a rush by accessory makers to issue firmware fixes. Nintendo says it did not intend to block lawful third‑party docks, but the incident has drawn fresh scrutiny of the Switch 2’s proprietary docking handshake and the economics of console peripherals.
What happened
After installing the Switch 2 firmware update released in mid‑November, a large number of players reported that third‑party docks and dongles that previously worked suddenly stopped producing an HDMI signal to TVs. In most of those cases the Switch 2 continued to charge via the dock’s USB‑C connection but did not enter a docked (TV output) mode. Some owners said a full power‑cycle or restart fixed the official Nintendo dock, but those steps did not restore video on many third‑party units.
Reports surfaced on Reddit, YouTube and gaming forums, with affected users describing brand‑new travel cables and docks that “worked out of the box” being rendered unusable immediately after the update.
Technical theory — a handshake, not a simple HDMI passthrough
The Switch 2 uses a USB‑C physical port but relies on a proprietary handshake and power delivery arrangement for TV output. Several outlets and accessory engineers have hypothesized that Nintendo may have changed how the console identifies a dock for HDMI output—potentially separating Product ID (PID) or Vendor ID (VID) values for charging/USB functions versus video output. That would explain why charging often still works while HDMI does not.
Nintendo has previously said the Switch 2 dock supplies more power than the original Switch dock; the Switch 2 dock requires a roughly 60W power adapter (the original Switch dock used about 39W). That higher power/profile requirement is part of why some docks must mimic the official unit more closely to trigger docked performance.
Nintendo’s response and the makers’ scramble
Nintendo told outlets that “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. Nintendo does not have any intention to hinder or invalidate legal third‑party dock compatibility.”
Accessory manufacturers have also been active: some vendors confirmed the update temporarily impacted their products and said engineering teams developed firmware updates to restore compatibility. One Best Buy‑exclusive third‑party 4K TV dock kit (NX‑NS2DK) was reported by its maker to be affected but slated for a vendor firmware patch within days. Other brands mentioned in user reports and industry coverage include Viture, Antank, Genki, JSAUX, Next, Siwiqu, Jemdo, Hagibis and Jsaux — though not every product from those companies was necessarily affected.
Some third‑party docks remain functional. Companies with proprietary chip solutions (a maker told reporters its model uses a proprietary casting chip with higher compatibility) appear less likely to break, underscoring why results have been inconsistent across the market.
Not just docks — a few games also unstable
Separately, players have reported game crashes on Switch 2 after the same firmware update. Titles singled out include Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Crypt of the NecroDancer; affected players see crashes and the error message that “the software needed to close.” Those crashes appear to be limited to Switch 2 in initial reports and will likely be addressed by either system firmware tweaks or game patches.
Why users are upset — convenience and cost
Many owners buy secondary docks for convenience: to leave one in a living room and another in a bedroom, or to avoid packing the bulky official dock when traveling. The official Switch 2 Dock is sold separately and currently retails at a notably higher price than many third‑party options (the console’s official dock has been listed around $124.99). When an update makes cheaper alternatives unreliable, that frustrates consumers.
Two perspectives
- Critics and some users read the timing as deliberate lock‑down: because the Switch 2’s docking routine is proprietary, a firmware change can make life harder for reverse‑engineered adapters and nudge buyers toward Nintendo’s more expensive official hardware.
- Nintendo and several accessory makers counter that this was not an intentional disabling of legal products, and that differences in how docks implement the private protocol (or rely on reverse‑engineered workarounds) explain why only certain models failed. The fact that some vendors can patch their docks to restore functionality supports the view that this is fixable rather than a permanent block.
- If your third‑party dock stopped outputting video after update 21.0.0, check the manufacturer’s website or support channels for firmware updates or instructions. Many vendors are rolling out patches.
- Try a full power‑cycle or a cold reboot of the console—some users reported that rebooting restored function for the official dock but not for all third‑party units.
- If you rely on a dock in multiple rooms and need a guaranteed solution, using the official Nintendo Switch 2 Dock remains the safest short‑term option while vendors deliver fixes.
- Be cautious buying third‑party docks right now if immediate, guaranteed compatibility is essential; look for recent customer reports or vendor assurances about support for firmware 21.0.0.
What owners should do now
What this means for the accessory market
The episode highlights the tension between console makers’ desire to control certain hardware behaviors and third‑party makers’ efforts to offer lower‑cost alternatives. Accessory makers that invested in proprietary or licensed chip solutions appear more resilient. For others, the incident may accelerate moves toward formal certification programs or closer collaboration with Nintendo — if Nintendo chose to offer one — or simply raise the cost and engineering burden of supporting a console whose handshake can change with a system update.
For now, the issue looks resolvable in many cases via accessory firmware updates, but the situation underscores a simple reality for consumers: when critical behavior depends on a vendor’s private protocol, software updates can have outsized impacts on the wider ecosystem.