If I remember from my USB product design days, as long as they don't include any of the official markings on the product or packaging, they're in the clear.

I selected all and copy/paste before it popped up with the subscribe. It's not perfect and I didn't do any editing, but it's readable.

Edit: now that I read it, I guess it's not all there but TLDR there is encryption between the dock and console that prevents 3rd party docks.

How Nintendo locked down the Switch 2’s USB-C port and broke third-party docking

We whipped out a USB-C PD analyzer to test how Nintendo walled its garden this time around. by Sean Hollister Jul 2, 2025, 3:47 PM EDT

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If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Nintendo Switch 2 Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Sean Hollister Sean Hollister is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.

There’s always a reason why universal USB-C ports don’t “just work” like you’d expect. In the early days, it was incompetence or naiveté. Later, manufacturers often cheaped out. But in the case of Nintendo’s Switch 2, it appears to be intentional.

With the Nintendo Switch 2, it should be easy to plug your new, more expensive console into video glasses or TVs when you’re traveling away from home. USB-C makes it so. But Nintendo has intentionally broken the Switch 2’s compatibility with those devices, using a new encryption scheme and some form of dedicated encryption chip, two accessory manufacturers tell The Verge.

I haven’t yet found proof of that encryption chip myself — but when I analyzed the USB-C PD traffic with a Power-Z tester, I could clearly see the new Nintendo Switch not behaving like a good USB citizen should. A third-party Switch dock, plugged into a USB-C PD tester, about to be plugged into the Switch 2. Please forgive the terrible photo. A third-party Switch dock, plugged into a USB-C PD tester, about to be plugged into the Switch 2. Please forgive the terrible photo. Photo: Sean Hollister / The Verge

If you’ve been wondering why there are basically no portable Switch 2 docks on the market, this is the reason. Even Jsaux, the company that built its reputation by beating the Steam Deck dock to market, tells us it’s paused its plans to build a Switch 2 dock because of Nintendo’s actions. It’s not simply because the Switch 2 now requires more voltage, as was previously reported; it’s that Nintendo has made things even more difficult this generation. How docking works

That “U” in USB isn’t always “universal,” but this is generally true: if you plug any USB-C to HDMI adapter, dock, or hub into a USB-C laptop, tablet or handheld that supports USB-C video output, you can expect to see your screen automatically appear on your TV.

The magic is normally possible because of a simple, standardized set of instructions that any manufacturer can follow to make their docking station or hub “talk” to the computer. Subscribe to The Verge to continue reading. More in this stream See all We confirmed Nintendo’s Switch 2 TV dock supports VRR — so why doesn’t it work with Switch 2? Sean HollisterJul 3 12 Can you spot an authentication chip in the Nintendo Switch 2’s dock? Sean HollisterJul 2 9 Obsbot will update its Tiny and Meet webcams for Nintendo Switch 2. Sean HollisterJul 2 More in Report We confirmed Nintendo’s Switch 2 TV dock supports VRR — so why doesn’t it work with Switch 2? We confirmed Nintendo’s Switch 2 TV dock supports VRR — so why doesn’t it work with Switch 2? Sean HollisterJul 3 12 Meet Soham Parekh, the engineer burning through tech by working at three to four startups simultaneously Meet Soham Parekh, the engineer burning through tech by working at three to four startups simultaneously Emma RothJul 3 20 Can the music industry make AI the next Napster? Can the music industry make AI the next Napster? Elizabeth LopattoJul 1 15 ‘We are the media now’ ‘We are the media now’ Mack DeGeurinJun 29 101 Reddit turns 20, and it’s going big on AI Reddit turns 20, and it’s going big on AI Jay PetersJun 28 24 The Nintendo Switch 2 webcam compatibility mystery is solved and updates are on the way The Nintendo Switch 2 webcam compatibility mystery is solved and updates are on the way Sean HollisterJun 26 14 Top Stories An hour ago The American system of democracy has crashed Two hours ago This is not a tattoo robot 2:37 AM EDT The Loop Micro is my new favorite bicycle phone mount Jul 3 Deerhoof did not want its music ‘funding AI battle tech’ — so it ditched Spotify Jul 3 Meet Soham Parekh, the engineer burning through tech by working at three to four startups simultaneously Jul 3 A guide to the best sci-fi streaming this summer

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https://web.archive.org/web/20250703051402/https://www.theverge.com/report/695915/switch-2-usb-c-third-party-docks-dont-work-authentication-encryption

Disabling JS worked

How would it be? Unfortunately there are still a lot of consumer hostile practices going on that are completely legal in the EU. I‘m no expert of course so I‘m curious what EU law would regulate this exact practice.

Pretty much the only major player that still focused on local multiplayer which is very valuable to me...

https://web.archive.org/web/20250703051402/https://www.theverge.com/report/695915/switch-2-usb-c-third-party-docks-dont-work-authentication-encryption

Here's the article with no paywall!

Yes. I have a small usb-c docking station for the switch, that I use for hooking it up to the TV of hotels or holiday homes.

It also breaks other stuff like being able to output video to portable video glasses. A relatively niche use now, but something that will pick up considerably over the life of the console.

Having a floating 4k screen that you can put anywhere at any size is pretty nice. Don't have to look down at your hands or hold the system up to a comfortable eye line.

I do hope that at some point they open it up a bit more. And maybe only exclude stuff that would damage the system, which is ostensibly the -given- reason for locking it down. While of course, the real reason is likely a licensing opportunity.

I do still buy their stuff. But it has been more and more often lately that I buy it and then feel ok about emulating it to add in stuff like 4k 120 fps or VR/stereoscopic or whatever.

Yes. I have two of them.

I have an USB hub with a Type C to HDMI output. I switch with my laptop, Steam Deck, and Switch 1.

Additionally, when I'm traveling, I prefer to take the small USB hub over the chunky switch dock.

My biggest gripe is how petty it is to disallow it. That's like HP levels of petty... Actually, they're really starting to adopt a lot of shitty HP policies.

I don't think the third-party dock market for general consumers is too big. But of course, any example I quote would be anecdotal as I dont have any actual stats.

Yep. And unlike most toothless consumer protection agencies in the US, Procon does not fuck around. They'll even straight up force gaming companies to unban someone from a game if the person felt the ban was unfair, and force them to not only return their entire progress, but all of their items and pay them a sum for the damages. Add that to the fact suing in Brazil is completely different than in the US: everyone is assigned a lawyer for absolutely free during the entire process, and customers win cases against big companies all the time without ever having to spend a single cent.

it mandates it for charging, but i dont think the mandate technically applies for other functionality.

i wouldnt be surprised if as a device it charges normally with pd chargers.

I know 'canceled' is the American spelling but it looks weird to me without the second L.

The steam deck has been the direct replacement for the Nintendo switch for me.

Just wait til it's hacked bro. No way they are keeping this thing secure.

Can't believe they did it again.

I mean, really?

Thank you for helping me bypass the paywall!

You're not wrong, though we should still advocate for consumer protections to stop this abuse.

I will only purchase a Switch 2 once somebody comes up with a way to hack it (and assuming any modchip is not unreasonably difficult to install); if that doesn't happen, fuck it, I'm gonna pass.

Ah, fair point. Still, I'm not too jazzed about Nintendo making their own USB standard. They may as well call it just SB, because there's nothing universal about this.

Yeah the requirements are for USB-C power delivery for devices capable of charging @ (if I remember correctly) > 15W.

The requirement was placed in the radio equipment directive of the EU so unlikely they will amend it to add requirements for USB-C cabled data transmission.

Though nyko should be on the hook to buy you a new switch if they design a piece of shit that wrecks your switch

Nintendo also tried to lock down the Switch 1 docking, and 3rd party manufacturers had to hack together workarounds. "When Nintendo released the original Switch in 2017, accessory makers similarly had to figure out how to crack Nintendo’s esoteric docking protocols, and some of them (Nyko) allegedly led to damaged handhelds."
I'd more blame that for causing the issues in the first place, if the Switch spoke standard USB-C, then all reputable docks would work with no weird hacks.