Title: Incompatibility Issues Surrounding the Use of a Foreign Dock on the Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been making waves in the gaming world, but one area where it seems to fall short is its compatibility with USB docks. Contrary to popular demand, Nintendo does not offer a more compact notebook-style dock for on-the-go use.

However, the Nintendo Switch 2 does communicate with USB devices in a unique way. It uses Vendor Defined Messages to ensure that Nintendo devices like the Switch 2's official dock are recognised. This approach, while effective for Nintendo's official dock, has caused some issues with third-party USB-C docks.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Stationset, a dock with a built-in fan, retails for 110 euros. Unfortunately, many affordable USB-C docks under 50 euros, which work flawlessly on laptops, do not work with the Switch 2. This is due to the Switch 2's unique handling of manufacturer-specific commands in the current USB protocol.

In the communication between the Switch 2 and USB devices, there are repeated requests for "DISCOVER_IDENTITY". However, with many USB-C docks, the direction of communication is reversed or partially restarted, causing the foreign device to give up.

LTT, a popular tech YouTube channel, has found a dock by the manufacturer Antank that works with the Switch 2, similar to the original. The manufacturer of the Nintendo-compatible dock tested by LTT is Antank, specifically their S3 MAX Dock Station model.

LTT's experiments suggest that Nintendo is not using its own "encryption" for USB, contrary to some speculation. Instead, it seems that the issue lies in Nintendo's failure to ensure successful negotiations with other USB docks' features, a move that LTT accuses Nintendo of "tactical laziness".

Some providers have updated their older devices' firmware to work with Nintendo's USB peculiarities, offering a glimmer of hope for those seeking a more versatile docking solution for their Switch 2.

For more information and videos related to this topic, you can visit c't 3003, our website, or Peertube. It's worth noting that the Switch 2's dock functions after the device ID is reported, but no image is displayed even with a single monitor connected directly to the Switch 2's dock port. Similar issues with third-party accessories were observed during some firmware updates for the first Switch.

In conclusion, while the Nintendo Switch 2 offers a great gaming experience, its compatibility with USB docks leaves much to be desired. However, with the right third-party solutions and firmware updates, it is possible to find a suitable docking solution for your Nintendo Switch 2.