Nintendo has introduced GameChat, a Discord-like chat app for its upcoming Switch 2 console. However, the service will require a monthly fee starting from March 31, 2026. The dedicated C button will be linked to GameChat, and users without a Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) membership will see no functionality when pressing it.
According to Bill Trinen, vice president of player and product experience, users can find information about NSO subscriptions on the C button but won’t have full access to GameChat’s features. The service allows for video chat with friends in handheld or docked modes, as well as streaming gameplay with a built-in microphone.
The C button will remain dormant unless users are subscribed to NSO, and even then, it may not be remappable to another function. Nintendo considers GameChat an integral part of the Switch 2 experience, which includes exclusive benefits such as access to old GameCube games and free upgrades to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
The console’s base price is $449.99, with potential increases due to U.S. President Trump’s tariffs. Gamers will need to decide if GameChat’s subscription fee is worth it as the Switch 2 releases in June.
Source: https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch-2/553458/switch-2-nintendo-confirms-c-button-price