GameChat[a] is avoice andvideo communication application developed byNintendo for theNintendo Switch 2 video game system. It is the successor to the voice chat feature on theNintendo Switch Mobile App that is intended for theNintendo Switch. Launched on June 5, 2025 alongside the Nintendo Switch 2, it serves as the primary social communication application forNintendo Switch Online subscribers. GameChat received mostly positive reception, with critics comparing the application as a family friendly alternative toDiscord.
GameChat can be launched at any time by pressing the "C" button on controllers like the rightJoy-Con 2 controller.
GameChat is a voice chat application that is part of theNintendo Switch 2 system software. The application can be launched from the HOME Menu or at any time by pressing the "C" button on supported controllers, such as the rightJoy-Con 2. Prior to March 31, 2026, GameChat was available for free for users with aNintendo Account as part of the GameChat Open-Access Period. After that date, the service requires an activeNintendo Switch Online subscription.[1][2]
Before using GameChat, users must go throughtext message verification with the phone number that is registered to their Nintendo Account.[3] A console that has users under the age of 16 requiresparental controls to be set up on the console via theNintendo Switch Parental Controls app. Parents then are able to control what GameChat features children can use, including viewing interaction history and grant approval for camera access.[2]
Voice chat: Up to 12 players can join one chat room and use voice chat to communicate with others in the chat room.[1] GameChat has a noise filtering feature to filter out unwanted sounds, allowing users' voices to be heard clearly.[4]
Video chat: GameChat allows for video chat using a supportedwebcam, like the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera.[5]Capture cards can also be used in place of a camera, allowing users to connect other devices such as supportedAndroid andiPhone devices.[6][7] Users can also set video chat backgrounds. During a GameChat session,CameraPlay can be used, allowing users to interact with select games with the camera during a game session.[8]
Screen sharing: Up to 4 players can share their screen simultaneously to others in the chat room, even if they are playing different games.[9] Not all games and applications support screen sharing, as support is determined by the games' developer.[10]
GameShare over GameChat: GameChat allows users to share supported games via GameShare inside the chat room to play together online, even when users don't own a copy of the game.[11] GameShare has been compared toDS Download Play.[12]
Development of the Nintendo Switch 2 console ramped up in around 2019, where early focus was on improving the consoles' software performance through tech upgrades.[‡ 1] However, the emergence of theCOVID-19 pandemic in 2020 interfered with the development of the console, as it forced Nintendo developers towork at home during thelockdowns and shutdowns. To communicate among developers, they usedvideo conferencing systems to check the software that is being worked among the team. However, Nintendo developers expressed frustrations with the software, particularly the limitation of only being able to usescreen sharing once at the time, so much so that developers have to have "each person place their game screen in front of their camera instead of their faces." Developers enjoyed the idea, as Switch 2 lead producer Kawamoto said that it felt like they were "in the same place, each bringing our own console to play the game together,"[15] influencing the idea of GameChat. It was later pitched to Nintendo executives as one of the standout features of the console, comparing it to development ofSuper NES andNintendo 64 games.[16][‡ 2]
The first demo for GameChat was created in just under six months on a standard Nintendo Switch console with a fasterCPU and moreRAM, as the Switch 2 wasn't ready back then. Nintendo developers wanted GameChat to feel like astudent lounge atmosphere, whey they can gather and mingle around together regardless of what they are playing, creating a new voice chat atmosphere. The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera was later added to the proposal with the atmosphere in mind. When testing the GameChat demo with various existing games, developers felt like that in some games, including single-player ones such asThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, some developers felt like playing an online game, even though it is not one. The screen sharing feature was implemented as a way to help players show game tips to other players.[‡ 2] Nintendo developers pressured the hardware team to design the Switch 2 with the GameChat ideas in mind for seamless setup and use, such as adding the microphone with built-in chips that have the ability to process sounds, noise filtering, and capabilities for smoothlivestreaming.[‡ 3] To make GameChat easier to launch, developers suggested the idea of adding a "C" button to the controller to easily launch GameChat without much effort.[‡ 2] Developers also included privacy and safety features such as the camera shutter and the ability for parents to monitor children's GameChat activity using the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.[‡ 4]
GameChat was announced in the Nintendo Switch 2's introductoryNintendo Direct on April 2, 2025. showcasing the features of the application, the "C" button, and the interactive CameraPlay features in games such asMario Kart World andSuper Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV.[1][5] GameChat was released on June 5, 2025 alongside the Switch 2 through a day-one software update.[17] Nintendo made GameChat free until March 31, 2026 as part of the GameChat Open-Access Period, when it later requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription after that date.[2]
GameChat received generally favorable reviews from critics.Wired described GameChat as "the most notable, wholly new feature" of the Switch 2.[18] Many critics compared GameChat to the likes ofDiscord[19][20][21] andZoom,[22][23][24] with many calling it more of a family friendly alternative.[25][26] Many reviewers praised the ease of use,[9][26] such asMashable, calling the inclusion of the "C" button useful, making it "very easy to bop in and out of chat rooms" without needing to return to the HOME Menu.[25]Business Insider felt it was "made for quick, casual multiplayer sessions" rather than specialist communication.[27]Gizmodo described the CameraPlay features in GameChat chaotic, such as allowing users to see players' expressions when getting hit by ablue shell inMario Kart, calling it "priceless, especially since you no longer have to look away from the screen to witness their agony."[28] Many critics praised the accuracy of the speech-to-text option and its ability to discern specific speakers.[25][29]
Some criticism of GameChat was about requiring a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, leading to the perception of the "C" button locked behind apaywall,[9][30][31] though it is remappable.[32] The screen sharing capabilities was criticized for lowframerates and large amounts ofcompression,[33] withThe Verge calling it "choppy and hard to follow."[9]
