Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat: Phone Number Verification Now Required

The much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 introduces GameChat, a new video calling feature integrated into every console. This feature, promoted as a pivotal element of the system, requires users to set up their account with a phone number for verification. If you're new to GameChat, you'll need to provide a phone number, or if it's already linked to your Nintendo Account, that number will be used. Once verified via a text message, your GameChat activity will be associated with that number, so it's crucial to use it responsibly.

For younger players under 16, GameChat is initially blocked. A parent or guardian must enable it through the Parental Controls smart device app and provide their own phone number for verification. According to information found on Nintendo's website, as reported by Eurogamer, this requirement extends to all users with a Nintendo Account on the Switch 2, even if the console is shared among multiple people. IGN has reached out to Nintendo for further clarification on this policy.

Activating GameChat is straightforward—just press the new 'C' button on the Switch 2 controllers to start a session. This allows for video calls with up to four people or group audio calls with up to 24. Within a video call, players can use a separate camera peripheral to broadcast themselves and stream their gameplay, marking a first for Nintendo in offering such a service, and positioning them to catch up with other console makers in online features.

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Recent insights from Digital Foundry have shed light on the technical aspects of GameChat. They revealed that the feature significantly impacts the system's resources, raising concerns among developers. Nintendo has provided a GameChat testing tool that simulates the real-world effects on the system, such as API latency and L3 cache misses, allowing developers to test their games without running actual GameChat sessions. This raises questions about whether GameChat might affect game performance for end users, although if the resources are properly allocated, it shouldn't make a difference. Digital Foundry expressed interest in observing how GameChat might influence game performance, indicating this is a notable concern for developers. We'll have a clearer picture when the Switch 2 launches on June 5.

As a reminder, GameChat will be free to use for the first 10 months following the Switch 2's release. Post-March 31, 2026, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to continue using the feature.

In other news, we've recently seen the first look at a Switch 2 game cartridge and heard that Samsung is interested in supplying OLED screens for potential future upgrades of the console.