Nintendo restricted the Switch 2's USB-C port due to encryption

Nintendo intentionally limited the compatibility of the USB-C port of the new Nintendo Switch 2 console with third-party docking stations by using a new encryption scheme and a special chip, The Verge reports.

The console uses a unique data exchange protocol that does not comply with the USB-C Alt Mode standard, which means that even the simplest image output to a TV no longer works with third-party hubs or docking stations.

Third-party docks are popular among Nintendo Switch owners because they are typically cheaper, more compact, and more travel-friendly than the official dock. They are also often used in conjunction with video glasses or monitors in hotels, while traveling, or during tournaments.

However, Nintendo has integrated a special chip or other encryption solution into the Switch 2 that verifies the "authenticity" of the dock. During the investigation, The Verge journalist recorded more than 30 unique "unstructured" commands being transmitted between the Switch 2 and the dock before the video begins streaming.

Currently, there is only one compatible third-party dock known - Antank S3 Max, which, according to the manufacturer, supports the required set of commands and can update the firmware in case of changes. However, even it has a design flaw - it covers the ventilation holes on the Switch 2 case. However, tests with a thermal imager have shown that the console does not overheat, and sometimes even cools better than in a standard dock.

In addition to docks, support for video glasses like the Xreal One has also been blocked. Xreal has confirmed that it will have to create a separate device to support the Switch 2, the Xreal Neo, which will be released later this year.

While Nintendo has yet to confirm the encryption, accessory makers have suggested that it is intentionally blocking functionality. Forum users have defended Nintendo, saying the company is trying to prevent damage to the console from cheap, uncertified accessories, as happened with the first-generation Switch in 2017. But critics say USB-C should be a universal standard, and Nintendo is deliberately violating that logic.