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Nintendo Switch 2 Dock USB-C Compatibility

(www.lttlabs.com)
298 points croes | 3 comments | 31 Aug 25 23:21 UTC | HN request time: 0.668s | source
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alex_f_k ◴[01 Sep 25 03:57 UTC] No.45089306[source]▶
From lttlabs:

> The inability for most docks to support the Switch 2 may not be malicious from Nintendo. It might just be a poor or lazy implementation of the USB-C specification

From the verge [0], 2 months ago:

> When I analyze the conversation between the Nintendo Switch 2 and its dock, I can see the two devices begin speaking in Nintendo’s own flavor of “vendor defined” language early in the conversation, before they sign off on any video output. And then, seemingly before the dock confirms that it’s engaged video-out, they send over 30 proprietary “unstructured” messages to one another.

> […]

> According to Antank, which says it checked with its chip supplier, that hexadecimal string “is indeed the current key being used by Nintendo.” My other sources are less sure.

I'm pretty sure lttl's conclusion is plain wrong. It is not JUST lazy USB-C implementation, but a purposefully designed special proprietary protocol on top of USB-C

[0] https://www.theverge.com/report/695915/switch-2-usb-c-third-...

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notrealyme123 ◴[01 Sep 25 04:19 UTC] No.45089407[source]▶
At least on the video they made it quite clear that they assumed thant Nintendo did it on purpose, but they did not have enough proof to actually say it.

So instead they sad "Nintendo stopped early with developing compatibility"

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whatevaa ◴[01 Sep 25 07:22 UTC] No.45090319[source]▶
They had to tip toe around this to avoid lawsuits. In practice, they made it quite clear they think this is on purpose.
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ChrisGreenHeur ◴[01 Sep 25 09:33 UTC] No.45091073[source]▶
I'm not so sure nintendo would sue someone over wrong details on specifics of usb-c implementations.
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1. dev_l1x_be ◴[01 Sep 25 12:24 UTC] No.45092164[source]▶
Are you familiar that half the memes about Nintendo about suing people over ridicolous violations of their IP?
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2. bdhcuidbebe ◴[01 Sep 25 13:13 UTC] No.45092468[source]▶
How is pointing out incompatible hardware related to IP?
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3. jerf ◴[01 Sep 25 14:01 UTC] No.45092748[source]▶
It isn't. The point is that it establishes that they are litigious.

There's a tier above them (Oracle, for instance), but they're pretty up there in their willingness to head to court not just with other big corporations but with individuals.