With GameChat on the Switch 2, Nintendo will be taking strong measures to make sure the system is secure.
Those reading the fine print on the official site for the Switch 2’s GameChat feature noticed that it will require an additional level of verification beyond just having a Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Eurogamer spotted a note stating that, in order to start GameChat on a new Switch 2, users will need to register a phone number to their account and set up text message verification.
It’s an understandable precaution, considering Nintendo’s history with chat features on their consoles, especially combined with a recent privacy policy update stating that they reserve the right to monitor interactions through the service.
Locking Things Down More
System security seems to be an ever-growing concern for Nintendo, with this new requirement, the aforementioned privacy policy update, and another recent update to their account agreement stating that unauthorized circumvention of their security measures can be punished by permanently bricking the console.
While these measures are definitely extreme, anyone who remembers the SwapNote fiasco back in 2013 knows that Nintendo has been through this song and dance before in the name of keeping their younger fans safe online.
GameChat has been a hotly-discussed feature even since before its reveal, with the C button used to turn it on being the subject of leaks and rumors since it was first noticed.
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Since then, both the quality of its video streaming and its potential impact on game performance have been points of contention.
The official GameChat camera hasn’t been particularly popular either, being an extra cost for what seems like just an ordinary USB-C webcam to go with the console’s low-quality video streaming capabilities and a few gameplay gimmicks.
Notably, GameChat will be free to use for all Switch 2 owners until March 31, 2026, after which it will require a paid Nintendo Switch Online account to continue accessing.
In any case, it won’t be long before players will be able to try all these things for themselves and see how GameChat actually shakes out, with the console’s June 5 launch date just under two short weeks away.
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