Nintendo Switch 2's C key: Only by paying can you chat?

A major update to the Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console is the addition of the C key, which can be used to chat with other players during the game. However, Nintendo has made it clear that the C key and GameChat function will be charged for use after the trial period.

Polygon confirmed that the C-key feature requires Nintendo Switch Online membership . Players who do not have a valid NSO subscription try using this key and will only see ads similar to Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo’s vice president of player and product experience, Bill Trinen, told Polygon:

“Where you can learn about the NSO subscription and learn about some features… [GameChat is] part of the overall platform experience… NSO is really a key part of the Nintendo Switch 2 experience.”

Nintendo previously announced that the free GameChat trial will end on March 31, 2026 , meaning that the C key will be completely unavailable without a subscription later.

All functions of C key on Nintendo Switch 2

The C key in the initial trailer attracted attention

Nintendo emphasized the social aspect of the game when it released Switch 2, while C key highlighted the company's concept of "gaming together". When C is pressed to activate GameChat, up to 12 players can see, hear and talk to each other, even if they are playing different games. Each player's live video will be displayed at the bottom of the Switch 2 screen. Nintendo will also sell Switch 2 cameras to help players communicate better when using the system.

The new C key has attracted fans since Nintendo showed off in the original Switch 2 trailer, but GameChat's response before the release was mixed . Some players say Nintendo is basically reinventing Discord, a service that allows people to communicate and share screens with each other, while others welcome the opportunity to interact with friends directly on the console.

Our view: NSO is reasonable, but locking GameChat is ridiculous

Players will look for alternatives

Co-op games such as Split Novel and Two-Player Tour are becoming more and more popular, and as more studios join the ranks, more and more players will look for ways to talk to friends in the game. Voice chat is now considered an essential feature by many, and preventing fans from using this feature on Switch 2, especially in the case of free alternatives like Discord, readily available, isn't Nintendo's wise move.

One Reddit user, PhewPhewGames, summed up the fans’ thoughts well: “It’s shameful to pay for an extra button on a console you’ve already bought.”

Nintendo says: "Elaborately designed from the beginning": Switch 2 development has a clear vision from the beginning

In a new interview, Nintendo said that the development of the Switch 2 had a clear vision from its original idea, "it was carefully designed from the beginning."

Article Nintendo Switch Online membership is relatively cheap, with $7.99 for individual users for three months and $34.99 for family packages, which is more affordable than PlayStation Plus Premium ($49.99 for three months) and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($19.99 for one month).

That said, the C key doesn't really provide players with anything that free services like Discord or Twitch can't provide. Locking the C key may not prompt people to join Nintendo’s membership ecosystem—rather, it will prompt them to move to free alternatives. Nintendo must consider the impact of blocking users from using the GameChat feature on Nintendo Switch 2 and decide whether the paywall is worth the risk of losing players.

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