The most recent Switch 2 software update looks to have bricked many third-party docks and related accessories, according to users across the internet and a report by Kotaku. We don’t know if this was an intentional move by Nintendo or simply an accident. Engadget has reached out to the company for clarification.
The Switch 2 update 21.0.0 brings some much-needed quality-of-life features, like the ability to turn off autoplaying videos in the eShop and new icons that indicate whether a game is digital or physical. However, it also brought along the aforementioned dock hiccup.
Switch 2 owners have reported that these docks either don’t work at all or are now much more finicky, often requiring a restart. This doesn’t seem to have impacted all third-party docks, but complaints are coming in pertaining to many different products. YouTuber AustinJohnPlays tested out two different Switch 2 dock dongles after the update and reported that both were borked.
Why on Earth would Nintendo do this on purpose? The company has been accused of engaging in anti-consumer practices these past several months. Remember, Mario Kart World costs $80, a tutorial minigame collection for the Switch 2 starts at $10 and a fairly minor DLC update for Donkey Kong Bananza costs $20.
An official dock replacement costs around $80, while many third-party offerings can be found for $30. This could be Nintendo’s way of keeping people tied to their hardware ecosystem. However, it could also just be a mistake and soon we’ll get an update to restore access to these docks. We’ll update this post when we know more.
