Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat Mandates Phone Verification

Setting up GameChat on the Nintendo Switch 2 requires users to verify their identity with a phone number.

Nintendo's integrated video calling software comes pre-installed on every Switch 2 unit and is highlighted as a major system feature.

However, users should note that activating GameChat requires verifying their identity by linking a phone number to their Nintendo Account.

Nintendo will send a confirmation text to the provided number, linking all GameChat activity to that specific phone, so users are reminded to use the service responsibly.

Users under 16 will have GameChat automatically blocked until a parent or guardian authorizes it through the Parental Controls app, which then requires the adult's own phone number for verification.

Information from Nintendo's website, first spotted by Eurogamer, indicates this verification applies to every Nintendo Account used on a Switch 2, even on shared consoles. IGN has reached out to Nintendo for official confirmation.

GameChat is accessible at any time during gameplay by pressing the new 'C' button found on Switch 2 controllers, allowing video calls with up to four participants or group audio chats with up to 24 people.

During video calls, players can broadcast themselves using a separately sold camera accessory and share their live gameplay. This marks Nintendo's first venture into this type of service, bridging a previous gap in online features compared to other console manufacturers.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

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Last week, Digital Foundry's technical analysis revealed the Switch 2's final specifications and reported that GameChat significantly impacts system resources, causing concern among developers.

Digital Foundry explained that Nintendo provides developers with a specialized testing tool to simulate the API latency and L3 cache performance issues that GameChat introduces during actual use.

This led to questions about whether GameChat being active affects game performance for players. If GameChat operates within its dedicated system allocation, performance should remain unchanged, but the existence of testing tools suggests developers need to account for some level of performance impact.

As Digital Foundry noted, "We'll be interested to see how GameChat may (or may not) impact game performance as this does seem to be an area of developer concern." The full picture will become clear when the Switch 2 launches on June 5.

As another reminder, GameChat will be free during the Switch 2's first 10 months on the market. Starting March 31, 2026, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use the service.

Earlier this week, we saw the first detailed look at a Switch 2 game cartridge and heard reports that Samsung is interested in supplying OLED screens for a future Switch 2 model.