Nintendo forces players to provide phone number
With an unusual requirement, Nintendo provides discussions for his upcoming Gamechat service on Switch 2. Because all users have to deposit their telephone number to chat with their friends – for safety, as it is said.
Lord at Nintendo’s new chat function
Nintendo had presented some new functions of its hybrid console at the beginning of April to present the Switch 2 at the beginning of April. In addition to the gameshaare function and the improved joy cons with mouse mode, the Japanese also showed their gamechat as one of the innovations of the console. Up to twelve people can talk to each other at the same time and share their screens in real time, even if they play different games.
With a compatible USB-C camera, the participants can even see each other during play. On the one hand, the chat can be easily started via the C-button on the Joy-Con or Pro Controller and offers additional features such as subtitles and text-to-language functions to make the service accessible and accessible to as many users as possible. As it turns out now, the gam chat on the other hand comes with a surprising restriction. Because the functions can only use players that Nintendo tell their telephone number.
Security as a top priority
The telephone number requires loudly Nintendos website Especially the protection of users. In the past, the Japanese game manufacturer has always followed a careful approach to online interactions. Already with previous consoles such as the Wii U and the 3DS family, Nintendo relied on strict security measures to protect younger players in particular. Strict gamechat rules apply, especially for players under the age of 16. You need the permission of a legal guardian and can only interact with contacts approved in advance. In this case, the parents’ telephone number is used for verification.
Users partially annoyed
Nintendo has not yet given an official reason why a telephone number and not other verification methods were chosen. Experts suspect that the telephone number serves as a relatively reliable identification method that is more difficult to fake than e-mail addresses. The community reacts to this measure. Some users Reddit Experience the step as “necessary” and refer to the important child protection. Other players criticize the requirement and compare with other consoles: “My PlayStation 5 has Voice chat and does not need a phone number,” argues one user.
Temporally limited test phase
The gam chat is initially available to all Switch 2 owners. From March 31, 2026, however, Nintendo Switch online membership will be required for further use. This strategy is similar to Nintendo’s procedures for other online services that were initially offered free of charge and later integrated into the paid subscription. In addition, the service will not be available in all countries, since Nintendo must take into account the different data protection and privacy laws. This is particularly relevant for regions with strict youth protection regulations or special requirements for data processing.
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