Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat Now Requires Phone Number Verification

The Nintendo Switch 2 introduces GameChat, a video calling feature integrated into every console, which is highlighted as a significant addition to the new system. To set up GameChat, users must verify their identity by providing a phone number to Nintendo. If a phone number is already linked to your Nintendo Account, you can use that. Once submitted, Nintendo will send a text message to verify and link your GameChat activity to that number.

For users under 16, GameChat is initially blocked. A parent or guardian must enable the feature through the Parental Controls smart device app and provide their own phone number for verification. According to information found on Nintendo's website, it seems that all users with a Nintendo Account will need to go through this verification process when using a Switch 2, even if the console is shared among multiple users. IGN has reached out to Nintendo for further clarification on this policy.

Activating GameChat is straightforward: players can press the new 'C' button on the Switch 2 controllers to start a session. This allows up to four players to engage in video chats, or up to 24 to join a group audio call. During a video call, players can use a separately sold camera peripheral to broadcast themselves and stream their gameplay. This marks the first time Nintendo has introduced such a feature, signaling a step forward in their online services.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

View 91 ImagesLast week, Digital Foundry unveiled the final specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2, expressing concerns about the impact of GameChat on system resources. They noted that Nintendo offers developers a GameChat testing tool to simulate API latency and L3 cache misses, allowing developers to test their games' performance under GameChat conditions without needing an active session. This raises questions about whether GameChat might affect game performance when enabled. Digital Foundry suggested that while the feature should not impact performance if properly allocated within the system, the provision of emulation tools indicates potential performance hits that developers need to address. They concluded by stating an interest in seeing how GameChat might influence game performance upon the Switch 2's release on June 5.

As a reminder, GameChat will be free for the first 10 months after the Switch 2's launch. After March 31, 2026, using GameChat will require a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

This week, we also got a glimpse of a Switch 2 game cartridge and heard rumors that Samsung might supply OLED screens for a future Switch 2 upgrade.