GoKawiilDeveloper patches $45 USB-C hub firmware to work as Nintendo Switch 2 dock
A hobbyist known as mkopec modified the firmware of a roughly $45 Cable Matters USB-C hub, adding about 540 bytes of code to make it function as an unofficial Nintendo Switch 2 dock. The patch makes the hub respond to Nintendo's proprietary vendor messages so it is recognized as an official dock, enabling TV mode, and a related tweak also fixes washed-out HDR over HDMI. The modder said the hub still works normally with a PC and phone after the change.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The project shows that Nintendo's dock compatibility relies on a proprietary handshake rather than hardware unique to its own dock, meaning third-party hardware can be adapted with firmware changes alone. It suggests hobbyists could create smaller, travel-friendly alternatives to Nintendo's official dock, though Nintendo has stated it does not intend to block legitimate third-party compatibility, according to a statement given to Tom's Hardware.
- A modder added ~540 bytes of code to a 32 KiB firmware to mimic Nintendo's official dock identity.
- The mod enables TV mode and fixes HDR washout, while preserving normal hub functionality for PCs and phones.
- Nintendo uses proprietary vendor messages for dock authentication, which the project reverse-engineered via a USB-PD sniffer.
Cable Matters USB-C Hub — This is the very hub hobbyists are hacking into a makeshift Nintendo Switch 2 dock, prized for being far more compact than Nintendo's official dock. It's a genuinely useful multiport hub on its own for laptops and phones, with HDMI output and USB-C passthrough charging, making it a great travel-friendly pick even before any firmware tinkering.
See Cable Matters USB-C Hub on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Shane Downing, 2026-11-12
Published there as: “Hobbyist turns $45 USB-C hub into a working Nintendo Switch 2 dock by patching its firmware”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.