Nintendo Limits Switch 2’s USB-C Port Compatibility: Proprietary Protocols Block Most Third-Party Docks and Accessories

Oh boy, where do I even start with the new Nintendo Switch 2? It’s like they took the original Switch and said, “Let’s make it better but just a bit weirder.” Like, okay, the screen’s bigger – yay, more space for your eyes to dance around. And the refresh rate? 120 Hz! Yeah, try not to swoon.

But then there are those Joy-Cons. Bigger, magnetic – bam, they just stick on like they’ve been waiting their whole lives for this. So satisfying? Maybe.

And hey, graphics? Nicer, smoother, whatever. Social features, too. Though, I’ll admit, I’m not entirely sure what makes a social feature “new” anymore. Maybe it counts if it’s shiny?

But here’s the kicker – the USB-C port. Yeah, you thought you could just plug in random third-party stuff, huh? Nope. Nintendo’s gone full-on gatekeeper here. Talking to some folks, it seems they’ve got this fancy new encryption dance. Imagine plugging in a hub and it’s like, “Wrong password, friend.” Except it’s a USB-C port and not your ancient email account.

Sean Hollister at The Verge went detective mode on this. Turns out, the Switch 2 and its dock have their little secret chats. Like, it’s not just about loading power. Oh no, they exchange a ton of mystery messages, like they’re plotting world domination or something.

So, there’s this one third-party dock – Antank S3 Max, totally sounds like a superhero’s alias, doesn’t it? Plays nice with the Switch 2, but only if you cozy up with Nintendo’s own power stuff. Of course, there’s a but, isn’t there? Might not last forever if Nintendo flips a switch (no pun intended, promise). Antank even plays it cool, saying they’ll update stuff if Nintendo changes the USB-C secret code.

Anyway, keeping up with this is like trying to follow a dramatic soap opera. Who knows what’ll happen next? Stay tuned, I guess.