Setting up GameChat on the Nintendo Switch 2 will require users to verify their identity with a phone number during initial configuration.
Pre-installed on every Nintendo Switch 2, GameChat's video calling functionality is marketed as a standout feature of the next-generation console.
However, prospective users should note that activating GameChat necessitates identity verification through a linked phone number - either by registering a new number or using the existing one associated with your Nintendo Account.
Nintendo will send a verification text to complete the setup, permanently associating your GameChat activity with that phone number. Consider this a gentle reminder to maintain appropriate conduct!
Users under 16 will find GameChat automatically disabled until a parent or guardian grants permission through the Parental Controls app, at which point the guardian must provide their own phone number for verification.
Information discovered on Nintendo's official website suggests this verification process applies to all Nintendo Account holders using Switch 2, even on shared devices. IGN has reached out to Nintendo for official confirmation.
During gameplay, players can instantly access GameChat by pressing the new dedicated 'C' button available on all Switch 2 controllers. The feature supports four-way video chats or audio calls with up to 24 participants simultaneously.
Video calls can incorporate gameplay streaming and support external camera peripherals (sold separately), marking Nintendo's first foray into such comprehensive communication services - historically an area where the family-oriented company trailed behind competitors.
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Digital Foundry's recent technical analysis of Switch 2's finalized specifications revealed GameChat's substantial system resource demands, reportedly causing concern among development teams.
According to their report, Nintendo provides developers with specialized GameChat testing tools that simulate API latency and L3 cache issues that occur during actual usage, allowing optimization without live GameChat sessions.
This development tool raises questions about potential performance impacts on retail units when GameChat operates in the background. While system resource allocation should theoretically prevent differences, the existence of these testing utilities suggests developers need to account for measurable performance impacts.
As Digital Foundry phrased it: "The potential impact of GameChat on game performance remains an area of developer interest and concern." Final clarity will only come with the console's June 5 launch.
As a separate reminder, GameChat will remain free for the first ten months post-launch, transitioning to a Nintendo Switch Online membership requirement after March 31, 2026.
This week also brought the first official look at Switch 2 game cartridges, alongside reports of Samsung's interest in supplying OLED screens for future console revisions.
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