If you're excited about the new Nintendo Switch 2 and its GameChat feature, there's an important detail to keep in mind: setting up GameChat requires a phone number. This video calling software, integrated into every Nintendo Switch 2, is being touted as a major attraction of the new console. However, to activate GameChat, you'll need to verify your identity by providing Nintendo with a phone number, or using one already linked to your Nintendo Account. Once you've entered your number, Nintendo will send a text message to confirm, linking your GameChat activities to that number. So, remember to keep things friendly and respectful!
For younger players under 16, GameChat is initially blocked. A parent or guardian must enable this feature through the Parental Controls smart device app and also provide their own phone number for text message verification. According to information spotted by Eurogamer on Nintendo's website, it appears that every user with a Nintendo Account will need to go through this process when playing on a Switch 2, even if the console is shared. IGN has reached out to Nintendo for clarification on this policy.
Accessing GameChat is straightforward; just press the new 'C' button on the Switch 2's controllers during gameplay. This allows up to four people to video chat or up to 24 to join a group audio call. In a video call, you can use a separately sold camera peripheral to broadcast yourself and stream your gameplay. This marks Nintendo's first foray into this type of service, which sets it apart from its previous online offerings.
Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery
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Last week, Digital Foundry shared the final specs for the Nintendo Switch 2 and highlighted concerns about the GameChat feature's impact on system resources. They mentioned that Nintendo provides developers with a GameChat testing tool to simulate API latency and L3 cache misses, allowing them to test without active sessions. This raises questions about whether GameChat affects game performance. While the feature should ideally not impact performance if it's within the system's resource allocation, the availability of emulation tools suggests otherwise. As Digital Foundry noted, "We'll be interested to see how GameChat may (or may not) impact game performance as this does seem to be an area of developer concern." We'll have to wait until the Switch 2's release on June 5 to see the real effects.
As a reminder, GameChat will be free for the first 10 months after the Switch 2's launch. Post March 31, 2026, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to continue using GameChat.
This week, we got our first glimpse of a Switch 2 game cartridge, and there's buzz that Samsung is interested in supplying OLED screens for a potential Switch 2 upgrade.
