Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat: Phone Number Verification Now Required

Nintendo Switch 2's GameChat feature is a significant addition to the console, seamlessly integrated into every unit and highlighted as a pivotal component of the system's capabilities. To get started with GameChat, users will need to verify their identity using a phone number. If you already have a number linked to your Nintendo Account, that will suffice; otherwise, you'll need to provide a new one. Once you submit your number, Nintendo will send a text message to complete the verification process, effectively linking your GameChat activities to that phone number. So, remember to keep things friendly and respectful!

For users under the age of 16, GameChat access is initially blocked. A parent or guardian must use the Parental Controls smart device app to enable the feature, and they too will need to add their phone number for verification. This information, as noted by Eurogamer, is detailed on Nintendo's website, suggesting that all Nintendo Account holders on a Switch 2, even those sharing a console, will need to follow this procedure. IGN has reached out to Nintendo for further clarification on this matter.

Activating GameChat on the Nintendo Switch 2 is straightforward. Just press the new 'C' button on the console's controllers, and you can start a video chat with up to four people or join a group audio call with up to 24 participants. During a video call, players can use a separately sold camera peripheral to broadcast themselves and stream their gameplay. This marks Nintendo's first venture into offering such a service, which is a notable step forward considering its past lag in online features compared to other console manufacturers.

Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery

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Recent insights from Digital Foundry have unveiled the final specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2, alongside concerns about the GameChat feature's impact on system resources. Developers are reportedly worried about potential performance hits due to GameChat, prompting Nintendo to provide a testing tool that simulates the API latency and L3 cache misses encountered in real-world scenarios. This allows developers to assess the feature's impact without needing active GameChat sessions.

The question remains whether GameChat will affect game performance for end users. Ideally, if GameChat resources are allocated within the system's capacity, there should be no difference whether it's on or off. However, the provision of emulation tools by Nintendo suggests that there might be some performance impact that developers need to account for. As Digital Foundry stated, "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." We'll have a clearer picture once the Switch 2 launches on June 5.

As a reminder, GameChat will be free to use for the first 10 months after 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 rumors that Samsung is interested in supplying OLED screens for a future upgrade to the Switch 2.