Instead of just fixing bugs, the latest major update for the Switch 2 has quietly knocked out a whole wave of unofficial docks, leaving players staring at dead accessories – and forcing Nintendo to explain that it never set out to sabotage trustworthy third-party partners.

Not every system update simply repairs what was broken; sometimes it introduces fresh issues that need to be dealt with quickly. That is exactly what has happened with Nintendo and the Switch 2. Despite rolling out its biggest firmware upgrade so far for the console, the Japanese company’s hybrid machine has suddenly stopped working with a number of unofficial charging docks, alarming many users and prompting Nintendo to clarify that this outcome was not intentional.

As mentioned, update 21.0.0, while delivering a series of improvements, has primarily impacted third-party docks sold by external manufacturers. Not every single model appears to be affected, but enough are that players have taken to Reddit and other social networks to compare notes. In many of these reports, users say their docks simply stopped working right after installing the new update and have not recovered since.

In other words, this was not a matter of occasional charging hiccups or brief disconnections: for some users the update has rendered their non-official docks practically useless. In response, Nintendo has stepped forward to stress that it has no desire to interfere with the functionality of legitimate third-party charging docks – meaning those companies that, while not directly affiliated with Nintendo, have been offering reliable accessories designed to work properly with the console.

Nintendo Wants To Avoid Compatibility Headaches And Is Working On Fixes

“Nintendo Switch 2 outputs audio and video once it detects that it is docked to a Nintendo Switch 2 dock. Nintendo Switch does the same, outputting audio and video once it detects that it is docked to a Nintendo Switch dock. Nintendo has no intention of hindering or invalidating the legal compatibility of third-party docks,” the company told IGN.

With that in mind, and since their priority remains “compatibility with authorized accessories,” Nintendo says its teams are planning to resolve the situation, although they have not yet provided details on when or how a fix will be rolled out. In the meantime, some dock manufacturers such as Hagibis and Jemdo have already released their own firmware updates in an effort to restore functionality to their devices on Switch 2.

Source: 3djuegos