Nintendo Switch 2 – GameChat: overview video and Ask the Developer interview
During the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo finally revealed the key featured that hid behind the mysterious C button on the right Joy-Con 2 controller: GameChat. It allows you to chat with your friends when playing online, with both simple voice chat and video chat support (the latter requiring a compatible camera).
Here’s an overview video showing exactly what GameChat is all about:
Here’s some additional details from the press release:
With the new online feature GameChat, people can play games and talk like everyone is in the same room, even if they are miles apart. Whether sharing a victory or just waving hello, GameChat makes it feel like online friends around the world are on the same couch. Once GameChat is up, players can start a chat with friends anytime by pressing the C Button on the right Joy-Con 2 controller. The system’s built-in mic can be used to voice chat while playing games with up to 12 people in different locations. Up to four friends can share their screen, and if they connect a compatible USB-C camera, such as the Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately), they can also video chat, seeing each other’s faces as they cheer, shout, or laugh while playing. Additional friends can join the chat via audio only. Until the end of March 2026, GameChat can be used without the need to have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Afterwards, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required.
When initiating a GameChat session, the user invites people from their friend list. Safety features are in place to help players have a safe and secure chat experience, such as the ability to report a person while in a chat session. In addition, Nintendo recognizes the important role parents and guardians play in their children’s online experiences, so children under the age of sixteen will need their parent or guardian to approve their use of GameChat with an updated version of the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App.
If you want to learn more about how this feature came to be, make sure to check out the latest Ask the Developer with Sumikazu Ono (Entertainment Planning & Development Department, Programming Management Group), Eiji Tokunaga (of Nintendo Systems), and Yoshitaka Tamura (Technology Development Department, Technology Development Group No. 2).
Here’s the three parts available:
Finally, here’s the video from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct:
