After months of (perhaps not entirely serious) mounting speculation, Switch 2’s enigmatic ‘C’ button is a mystery no more. Nintendo has finally whipped back the veil on the button that’s captured the internet’s imagination even before the console’s January unveiling, confirming it’ll fire up the console’s new voice and video GameChat feature when pressed.
Chatter around Switch 2’s mysterious ‘C’ button first began after it was spotted in various pre-reveal leaks, enigmatically situated below the ‘home’ button on the console’s right-hand Joy-Con. Speculation became even more frenzied after Nintendo very pointedly removed the ‘C’ during January’s unveiling, leaving a conspicuously blank square where everyone was expecting a ‘C’ button to be.
Now, however, following the ‘C’ button’s return across various bits of Switch 2 promotional material, we now know it’ll provide access to the console’s new GameChat. This provides a way to communicate with friends and family while playing a game. Voice chat is made possible by a microphone built into Switch 2 itself – powerful enough to pick up your chatter while someone’s blending a strawberry milkshake, apparently – but GameChat isn’t just restricted to audio.
Players can also share their screens while chatting together, even if they’re playing something completely different, and each player’s gameplay can be enlarged if you want to see what they’re up to in closer detail – which should be handy for talking someone through a difficult bit! Furthermore, video chat is also possible using a special Switch 2 camera peripheral that’ll be available to purchase alongside the console on launch day. And as far as video is concerned, you can either share your direct video feed, or overlay yourself onto your shared gameplay. Additionally, some games – including a new Mario Party title – will also make use of the GameChat, placing feed images direct in-game.
Game Chat will require a Nintendo Switch Online subuscription, but will be available without a membership until 31st March next year. Additionally, parents can adjust GameChat settings using the Parental Controls app if you, say, want to set things up so permission is always required when using game chat.
So there you go, mystery solved! And of course, that’s far from the only thing we’ve learned about Switch 2 during Nintendo’s latest Direct showcase. For the full run-down of everything we know about the hugely anticipated console – now confirmed to be launching on xx – check out Eurogamer’s Switch 2 hub.