Nintendo has long finally launched a native voice chat feature for the Switch 2, known as GameChat, that can be accessed via a new ‘C’ button on the right Joy-Con. This feature allows users to chat with friends and loved ones while gaming, a huge improvement from previous voice chat features that required a mobile app. The Switch 2 comes equipped with a native microphone with noise reduction, enhancing voice quality over calls.
GameChat not only offers voice chat but also screen share and video chat. Players can share game with their friends, whether or not they’re playing the same game, and be able to zoom in on each other’s screens for closer inspection. Video chat is supported through an optional Switch 2 Camera, offered as a separate purchase. Users can overlay their video over shared game or share directly using this camera.
GameChat is considered a significant step by Nintendo as it gets the Switch 2 on par with other next-generation consoles in the social gaming scene. Previously, Nintendo was employing a mobile application for voice chat, and it was sluggish and cumbersome compared to the built-in solutions employed by other consoles.
Whereas GameChat is a nice feature, its launch has been panned for being slightly retro and clunky-looking. In demos, both the screen sharing and video chat tools were plagued by obvious performance issues, with frame rates appearing to be reduced from what they ideally should be. This could impair these tools’ usability, especially in fast-paced action games where smooth video is paramount.
Nintendo has also prioritized parental controls in GameChat to enable parents to control who their kids can talk to online and if they can participate in video sessions. This emphasis on safety is in keeping with Nintendo’s family-oriented strategy but does recognize the necessity of stronger online features in order to keep up with other gaming systems.
The Switch 2’s ability to support third-party games like Microsoft’s Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Sea of Thieves might make GameChat particularly worthwhile for games like these, where real-time chat is key. Nintendo’s embracing more mainstream releases, like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077, only makes the appeal of a good voice chat system more relevant.
Although criticisms have been made, there is time for Nintendo to work out GameChat issues before the Switch 2 is released. The company will offer GameChat for free until March of 2026, allowing it sufficient time to work out issues with current users and enhance the overall experience. This would make the Switch 2 an elite platform not just for first-party releases but for a broader range of gaming experiences as well.
