Nintendo Switch OnlinePay, got worseUS
GameChat now needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership
GameChat on Nintendo Switch 2 stopped being free: from April 2026 it needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership
What changed
- GameChat without a membership
- Was Before: Allowed during the “GameChat Open-Access Period” (from June 5, 2025)
- After: Not allowed (“GameChat requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership”)
- GameChat with any membership
- Before: Included
- After: Included
- Unchanged
What this means for you
Nintendo Switch 2 owners without a membership can no longer use GameChat. Any Nintendo Switch Online membership includes it, from $3.99 for one month or $19.99 a year for an Individual membership; the Expansion Pack isn't needed.
What you can do
How we know
Nintendo announced on Apr 3, 2025 that GameChat would need a membership after Mar 31, 2026.
An archived copy of the GameChat help page from Mar 6, 2026 still allows use without a membership until Mar 31.
By Apr 9, 2026, an archived copy describes the free period as having ended on Mar 31, 2026.
Sources
- Nintendo: Nintendo Switch 2: GameChat - All Together, Anytime, Anywhere (Apr 3, 2025; capture Apr 4 2025) · archived copy
- Nintendo Support: GameChat Guide and FAQ (before, Mar 6 2026) · archived copy
- Nintendo Support: GameChat Guide and FAQ (after, Apr 9 2026) · archived copy
- Nintendo Support: GameChat Guide and FAQ (at Nintendo Switch 2 launch, Jun 6 2025) · archived copy
Full research notes
Nintendo (April 3, 2025): 'GameChat is included with any Nintendo Switch Online membership' and 'Until March 31, 2026, GameChat can be used without a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Afterwards, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use GameChat.' Nintendo Support's GameChat FAQ said the same on June 6, 2025 and March 6, 2026. By April 9, 2026 it read: 'Previously, during the GameChat Open-Access Period between June 5, 2025 and March 31, 2026, GameChat could be used without a Nintendo Switch Online membership.' GameChat is the Nintendo Switch 2 chat started with the C Button; Nintendo says games can be shared with GameShare 'While using GameChat'.
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