I love collecting a weird amalgamation of gaming gadgets and gizmos, but the Nintendo PlayStation prototype is never going to be in my reach or budget. I came to terms with that reality long ago, but this Switch 2 dock cover is the next best thing.
Well kinda. It's not an incredibly rare and pricey console prototype, and instead is a Switch 2 accessory that snaps onto the Nintendo Switch 2 dock to transform it into the classic original gray PlayStation. I've never sat down and said to myself, "I wish my Switch 2 looked more like the original PlayStation" but after seeing the short Instagram video posted on March 20 by its designers, I've never wanted anything more.
SIWIQU Nintendo Switch 2 dock | $32.99 at Amazon
The 90s nostalgia-fueled covers have been designed and created by UK-based brand Krasivoe, a two-person-operated business that specializes in unique docks and stands for smartphones and handhelds. Cleverly, there's no official mention of the word 'PlayStation' anywhere on its official product page, likely to avoid any copyright troubles. But it unmistakably pays homage to Sony's glorious gray rectangle.
The Switch 2 dock plates feature everything from the chunky circular power and open buttons found on either side of the console, and even the disc tray is there, despite not being operational. While you can't pop a spare copy of the RPG Koudelka or the iconic Vib Ribbon inside, you can actually turn the fake disc tray to change the orientation of the Krasivoe logo on the front. It's a bit sad to not see that colorful PS logo on top of it, but the suedo-Krasivoe version used in its wake is a clever (and pretty cute) substitution.
My favorite detail has nothing to do with the actual covers, which the brand boasts can "snap onto your Switch dock in seconds," but with the optional Memory Card accessory. The brand sells a set that includes a replica of the original PlayStation Memory Card, which can open up and store your physical Switch and Switch 2 games. It's a lot larger than the real deal, but it's a lovely detail and clever way to include a reference to another piece of iconic PlayStation gadgety.
Until this PlayStation release, an "8BITDOCK" version that's inspired by the classic NES has been on their official Etsy storefront for a while. The design principle appears to be pretty much the same - it can transform the boring all-black dock into a homage to the iconic 80s console, and it also comes with a unique storage case. Instead of a memory card, Krasivoe has taken the classic retro controller of the NES that can open up and store games instead.
The NES Switch 2 dock plate set makes a little more sense for the Switch 2, but I can't help fawn over the PlayStation design. If it wasn't obvious from my GamesRadar+ author image, where I'm wearing my childhood PS Memory Card as a necklace, the original PlayStation is one of my all-time favorite consoles. It'd be neat to play the remasters of Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy IX on my Switch 2 while starting at a homage to their original hardware, rather than the boring design of the official dock.
If you want one of these dock covers for yourself, I can only find it available on the brand's Etsy store starting from £48.20 (Etsy). If you're based in the US and fancy one yourself, they do ship to the United States too. Just be prepared for a larger delivery cost, as these small brands have to recoup their costs somewhere.
I've also rounded up the best Nintendo Switch headsets, the best Nintendo Switch microSD Express Cards, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 cameras if you're on the hunt for more Ninty accessories.
