Update: I ended up driving down to the closest GameStop (again, 25 miles) and explained my issue to the store manager. He had heard about this, and this caused him to cancel his pre-order. The dead dock issues are being reported more and more, much to his dismay. I’m not the first to complain about this, and he was also keeping an eye on the issues outlined in /r/switch2. He mentioned that the store should be getting in some Nintendo Switch 2 units by the end of the week, and he took down my info. So, hopefully I’ll be up and running, assuming I can get one of those units. Meanwhile, I purchased an additional dock from Nintendo. I had already planned to do this, so I could share the Switch 2 between my office and the living room, so that’s besides the point.
I’ll keep updating this story, as I’m sure more people are banging their heads against the wall because of this.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally out, and while it seems like the majority of folks are having a blast with the new system, I’m sitting over here stewing in frustration. Why? Because my launch experience hasn’t just been disappointing—it’s been infuriating. Less than a week into owning the thing, and using it for a few days, my dock is already dead. No lights. No charging. No video output. Just a $500 paperweight sitting on my TV stand. Hell, my original Switch dock is alive and kicking, so what the hell is going on?
At first, I figured the power brick might’ve died. Easy fix, right? I grabbed one of my more powerful USB-C bricks—since the Switch 2 dock needs 65 watts—and plugged it in. Nothing. Not even a flicker. Just to be sure, I dropped another $35 on a brand-new charger. Still dead. At this point, I started thinking maybe it was the Switch 2 itself, so I tested both the top and bottom USB-C ports. And wouldn’t you know it? Both worked perfectly. So now I’m sitting here with a brand-new console and a dock that’s dead.
That’s when the frustration really started to kick in, because without the dock, I can’t connect to my TV, and I definitely can’t capture gameplay for coverage or content creation, which was the main reason I purchased the system.
But hey, I bought the extended warranty from GameStop, so at least I have that safety net. Or so I thought. That illusion shattered the moment I tried to call my local store, which, by the way, is 25 miles away because all the closer ones were shut down. I called. No answer. I called again. Nothing. Over 30 attempts across multiple stores, and all I got was that useless automated system telling me to “call back in a few minutes” before hanging up on me. Every. Single. Time.
Fine. I’ll go straight to Nintendo.
And surprise—more problems. I gave the rep my serial number, and they proceeded to tell me they can’t find it in the system. I go to Nintendo’s website, check the warranty status myself, and boom: “Unfortunately, we were not able to determine the warranty status of your product.” WHAT?? According to the rep, it’s probably because GameStop never sent the registration info over. Which means, as far as Nintendo is concerned, my warranty doesn’t exist.
After going over scripted questions that didn’t help, go figure, the rep realizes that there is a problem. I just wish it didn’t take 20 minutes for them to figure that out. Now here’s the kicker—Nintendo is happy to repair my unit… for $180. Plus, the cost of shipping. On a brand-new console. That launched less than two weeks ago. Somehow, this is all my problem to deal with.
I took the repair ticket, but haven’t submitted it yet. Because let’s be real, that’s highway robbery. And unless I hand over my credit card and mail in the system, I’m stuck using the Switch 2 in handheld mode. No dock. No footage capture. No real use for what I bought this thing for. Happy launch, right?
GameStop? Still ghosting me. So now I’m debating just driving to the store and slamming the box on the counter, demanding a replacement, I already know they don’t have it in stock. Either that or leave it with them and let my credit card company sort it out. Because at this point, I’ve had it.
I figured maybe I was just unlucky. But nope. A quick dive into /r/switch2 subreddit and—guess what—turns out I’m not alone. Other users are reporting dead docks, docks overheating, and fans not even spinning, causing the unit to run warm. At this point, it’s clear this isn’t an isolated case. Typical early hardware hiccups, sure. But you’d think a company like Nintendo would have this locked down by now.
- Switch 2 dock broken?? : r/switch2
- Who else got a faulty dock? : r/switch2
- Does anyone else have this issue regarding the dock? : r/switch2
- Dock issue : r/switch2
And for those of us dealing with it? We’re screwed. There are no spare units to be found anywhere. Nintendo wants to charge us for repairs. Retailers are MIA. And nobody has extra docks in stock—not Best Buy, not Target, not Amazon, not even Nintendo’s own store (unless you’re lucky enough to catch it in the 2-minute window they restock before selling out again).
I finally managed to grab one directly from Nintendo, but it hasn’t shipped yet. And until then, I’m stuck. Can’t test, can’t review, can’t enjoy the system. Just sitting here waiting.
So yeah, this entire experience? It sucks—plain and simple. If your Switch 2 is working perfectly, then good for you. Hold onto it tight. Meanwhile, Nintendo is out here bragging about selling 3.5 million units, and I can’t help but wonder how many of those are sitting in the same broken state as mine. Instead of patting themselves on the back, maybe the Big N should focus on supporting the people who shelled out hundreds of dollars for a system that doesn’t even work right out of the box.
It’s ridiculous that early adopters are being punished, forced to pay for repairs on brand-new hardware. Sound familiar? Yeah—it’s giving Joy-Con drift energy all over again. Let’s just hope this doesn’t blow up into another widespread hardware fiasco. But honestly, the way things are going? I wouldn’t be surprised.
