Over the past two weeks, I’ve sought to uncover why the Nintendo Swap 2 didn’t work with a bunch of USB-C equipment that labored completely high quality with different gadgets, together with third-party docks and a few of the best-reviewed webcams. However at the moment, I’ve first-hand affirmation that present devices can work — so long as their producers situation the suitable firmware updates, and so long as Nintendo doesn’t break compatibility from right here on out.
You shouldn’t essentially want to purchase a brand-new gadget to plug a TV or video glasses into your Nintendo Swap 2. Three producers have already confirmed that firmware updates are sufficient for now, and hopefully extra will comply with!
The prevailing devices I simply efficiently examined are: the AverMedia Elite Go GC313 Professional and AverMedia Core Go GC313 compact charger docks, the Elgato Facecam MK.2 webcam, and the Viture Professional Cellular Dock for the corporate’s AR glasses.
None of them labored with the Nintendo Swap 2 at launch, however every now has firmware updates obtainable, and I used to be in a position to get all of them working in my own residence — and possibly, set a number of extra issues straight about Swap 2 compatibility.
The gadget: Elgato Facecam MK2
The story: Elgato was one of many very first firms to vow it could replace some non-working webcams to work with the Swap 2, and offered its personal theories to The Verge on why they didn’t work on day one. The corporate gained’t formally launch its firmware updates for the Facecam MK2 and Facecam Neo until the top of July, nevertheless it despatched us an early copy so I might present you video proof!
Right here, comply with together with me as I set up and take a look at it for the very first time:
(Sorry, I’m not allowed to share the early firmware replace recordsdata.)
What we realized: Elgato initially claimed the first motive its cameras didn’t work was that the Nintendo Swap 2 requires cameras to promote a low-resolution 480p video mode, even when that’s not the mode the Swap 2 winds up utilizing. Positive sufficient: the USBView tool reveals me that the Facecam MK2 now makes 480p the default video streaming mode {that a} USB host system (just like the Swap 2) will see earlier than anything.
Additionally: Keep in mind when Ugreen advised us that cameras wouldn’t work with Swap 2 in the event that they used the HID (human interface system) protocol? Weirdly, it appears Elgato really added some HID references in its newest firmware. Here’s the diff if you wish to peek.
Photograph by Sean Hollister / The Verge
The devices: AverMedia Elite Go GC313 Pro and AverMedia Core Go GC313
The story: I’d by no means even heard of those 100W GaN compact charging docks, the $130 GC313 Professional and the $90 GC313 — nevertheless it now seems they’re the primary and solely transportable docks for the Swap 2! (The Professional additionally doubles as a 1080p60 USB seize card, should you’re questioning concerning the value delta.) The corporate has a whole page dedicated to Switch 2 compatibility firmware updates, largely for its video seize gadgets, but in addition these transportable docks, in addition to a more traditional standing dock should you don’t thoughts plugging your Swap in upside-down.
What we realized: The firmware replace was fast to put in and the HDMI connection completely works — in all probability as a result of AverMedia’s dock is now utilizing the very same proprietary instructions that we see Nintendo’s official dock utilizing. (As soon as once more, I pulled out a USB-C PD analyzer to examine. Earlier than the replace, AverMedia’s dock didn’t converse Nintendo’s language and was shortly rejected; after the replace, it did.)
AverMedia’s dock didn’t work fairly as reliably because the official dock in my early exams. It doesn’t at all times join the primary time I plug it in, and there’s additionally a brief delay. Additionally notice: the GC313 solely appears to assist vanilla 4K60 output with no HDR or VRR.
As you’ll learn under, video glasses maker Viture has a firmware replace that makes its devices suitable with Swap 2 — however takes away compatibility with the unique Nintendo Swap. However I examined the AverMedia dock working with each generations of Swap, and Viture says it’ll do the identical in future.
Picture: Viture
The gadget: Viture Pro Mobile Dock
The story: This $130 dock is a battery pack that may energy your handheld or telephone, whereas routing its video to Viture’s USB-C video glasses or a USB-C monitor. (The HDMI port is for enter, not output to a TV.) With a firmware update, it features assist for Swap 2, however breaks assist for the unique Swap except you downgrade afterwards. A future replace will assist each, although, Viture spokesperson Emily Wang tells The Verge.
What we realized: Viture shipped me its dock pre-updated, so I didn’t take a look at before-and-after. However with the replace, it completely works — after a little bit of a delay, which appears to stem from some miscommunication between Viture’s devices and the Swap 2, if I’m studying the USB-C PD visitors proper. However after that miscommunication, I can see the Viture dock sends the very same proprietary instructions as Nintendo’s official dock.
One of many issues we’d heard early on is that Swap 2 docking stations want to supply 20 volts of energy for the Swap 2 to kick into TV mode — regardless that the hand-held solely really makes use of 15 volts. However the Viture dock solely advertises a most of 15 volts at 1.34 amps (20 watts in complete), and but Viture received video output working anyhow.
We all know these third-party docks are working with the Swap 2 as of at the moment, and we count on extra are on the way in which.
(One I didn’t get to check is this Hagabis, which inserts the complete HDMI adapter right into a cable as a substitute of a dock — beware that the firmware update solely official works with the 8K model which is black, not white or crimson and blue and retains going out of inventory.)
However we don’t know if Nintendo will transfer to dam these equipment with firmware updates of its personal. Right now, it seems that every of those docks can idiot the Swap 2 into considering they’re the official dock by emulating its instructions, however a number of producers admit that would result in a sport of cat-and-mouse the place they must situation new firmware updates to maintain up with Nintendo.
“Much like what Antank shared with you, it’s true that we may have to offer firmware updates if Nintendo adjustments its protocol specs,” Viture tells The Verge.