Following multiple reports of Switch owners who got their consoles bricked or killed after using third-party docks, Nintendo finally issued a statement recommending the use of the official one that comes with the system. Here is their statement to Kotaku:
Unlicensed products and accessories do not undergo Nintendo’s testing and evaluation process. They might not work at all with our game systems, and they could have compatibility problems with certain games, the Nintendo Switch system itself, and other licensed accessories and peripherals.Several users have pointed out that they were able to safely use third-party charging docks (eg: Nyko portable docking kit) for several months without experiencing any major hiccups. Some owners were able to trace the start of the problem when Version 5.0.0 came out earlier this month. Afflicted units exhibit the Loading Screen of Death wherein the unit in question is in a constant boot loop, cycling through the Switch logo and then rebooting ad infinitum.
Third-party accessory manufacturer Nyko did comment about this in their statement to Kotaku:
The company is aware of the issue some Portable Docking Kit owners are facing after updating the firmware on their Nintendo Switch to version 5.0. Though further testing is still required to determine the exact root cause of the problem, we believe it is related to the way the Switch handles AV output for an external TV/monitor while the console is docked on the Portable Docking Kit.A list of affected brands is currently not available and it is also yet unknown if third-party chargers are affected in any way. For reference, several third-party charging docks have made their way locally through retailers like DataBlitz or Game One PH / i.TECH. This includes DOBE and Nyko among the several generic ones from Lazada and Shopee.
Nintendo has yet to officially confirm the exact cause of the aforementioned problem at the time of writing. They did, however, release Firmware Version 5.0.1 for the Switch with the usual vague description:
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.While Switch owners in the US can ship affected consoles to Nintendo for repair, Nintendo's warranty does not apply to us. Local retailers only issue store warranty which also varies per store. If you're one of the unfortunate victims, we would recommend coordinating with the store where you purchased your Switch system from. You can use the Game Retailer Branches & Contacts page as reference for store locations and contact numbers.
Another issue is the potential lost of game save files. If you are unfamiliar about how it works, the Switch stores them internally. There is no known way to back them up right now because the console is currently devoid of this feature.
Whether you value your save files or would just like to avoid the potential problems altogether, using the official Nintendo Switch dock is the easiest and most cost-effective way to do this while waiting for more information to come out.
via Nintendo Life, Kotaku, Forbes
