Reported by 2 outlets
The story so far
AI summary of the reporting below · Updated · How we work
While the stock hub only delivered power to the console, patching approximately 540 bytes into the hub's 32 KiB controller firmware allowed it to mimic the official dock's identity and enable TV mode. [1][2]
The modification altered the hub's VIA Labs VL103 controller to answer proprietary vendor commands, supply 15 V at 2.8 A, and report Nintendo's vendor ID rather than VIA's. To resolve washed-out HDR output over HDMI, mkopec applied an additional 108-byte patch to the Realtek RTD2142 display chip to correctly trigger the BT.2020 color space. The hub still functions normally with PCs and phones, though HDR remains washed out through its native DisplayPort, and enabling variable refresh rate froze the display or resulted in a black screen. [2]
The project challenges assertions from two accessory makers who told The Verge that Nintendo's dock verification relied on dedicated encryption chips. However, the modder did not release patch files or code, and unhandled commands or future console firmware revisions could disrupt functionality, much like Nintendo's 21.0.0 system update previously broke video output on several third-party docks. [2]
The hobbyist, who goes by mkopec, explained in a blog post that Nintendo's dock is simply too bulky to travel with. A €40 ($44) Cable Matters 7-in-1 hub looked like a neat replacement, since it already takes video over USB-C. But hooked up to a Switch 2, it only charged the console.
via TechSpot
A hobbyist patched a Cable Matters USB-C hub’s firmware so the Nintendo Switch 2 accepts it as a dock for TV mode and HDR.
via Tom’s Hardware