Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat: Phone Number Verification Required

Nintendo Switch 2 enthusiasts, get ready for the new GameChat feature, which comes integrated into every console and is highlighted as a major selling point of the system. However, to set up GameChat, you'll need to verify your identity with Nintendo by providing a phone number. If you've previously linked a number to your Nintendo Account, you can use that one. After providing your number, Nintendo will send a text message to verify and link your GameChat activity to it. So, remember to stay on your best behavior!

If you're under 16, GameChat will initially be blocked. A parent or guardian will need to enable it through the Parental Controls app on their smart device and verify their own phone number via text message. According to information found on Nintendo's website, as reported by Eurogamer, it seems that all Nintendo Account users on a Switch 2 will need to go through this verification process, even if the console is shared. IGN has reached out to Nintendo for clarification on this matter.

Accessing GameChat is straightforward: just press the new 'C' button on your Switch 2 controllers during gameplay. This allows up to four people to engage in a video chat or up to 24 to join a group audio call. For video calls, you can use a separately sold camera peripheral to broadcast yourself and stream your gameplay. This marks Nintendo's first foray into such a service, bringing them in line with other console manufacturers' online offerings.

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Last week, Digital Foundry unveiled the final specs for the Nintendo Switch 2 and noted that the GameChat feature significantly impacts system resources. This has reportedly raised concerns among developers. Nintendo offers a GameChat testing tool that simulates API latency and L3 cache misses, allowing developers to test without running active GameChat sessions. The question remains whether GameChat affects game performance for users. While it shouldn't if resources are properly allocated, the availability of emulation tools suggests there might be some 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 get the definitive answer when the Switch 2 launches on June 5.

Just a reminder, GameChat will be free for the first 10 months after the Switch 2 hits the market. Post March 31, 2026, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to continue using GameChat.

This week, we've seen the first look at a Switch 2 game cartridge and heard that Samsung is interested in providing OLED screens for a potential Switch 2 upgrade.