Switch 2’s GameChat Secretly Records Your Conversations: Nintendo Admits

Inside Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2 lies a microphone that’s listening—sort of. The company just revealed GameChat, their new voice feature that records everything you say. Well, temporarily. For 24 hours, to be exact.

Here’s the deal. Every GameChat conversation gets stored on your console and the consoles of whoever you’re talking to. Nintendo swears they’re not constantly eavesdropping on your heated Mario Kart arguments or your strategic Zelda discussions. The microphone only springs to life when you actually use GameChat or compatible voice features. Fair enough.

GameChat records everything locally, but Nintendo pinky promises they’re not listening to your Mario Kart meltdowns.

But wait, there’s more. If someone files a misconduct report against you, Nintendo gets to hear your last three minutes of audio. That’s right, three whole minutes of whatever colorful language you might’ve used after losing that final Smash Bros match. The company says this is all about safety and maintaining a “secure online environment.” Sure, Nintendo. We believe you.

The privacy details are somewhat reassuring, though. Those recordings vanish after 24 hours unless someone reports you for being a jerk online. No cloud uploads, no remote storage of your random conversations about what you had for lunch. Just local storage on the console itself. Nintendo only gets their hands on the audio if there’s an actual complaint.

Users maintain control through the dedicated C Button on the right Joy-Con 2 controller. Quick mute, quick unmute. Simple. The system supports up to 12 people in voice chat, or four if you’re brave enough to use video with a USB-C camera. Yes, video chat is a thing now. No, the camera isn’t required for regular voice chat. Users must provide consent before using GameChat for the first time, agreeing to terms that explicitly warn about the recording features.

GameChat works across TV, tabletop, and handheld modes. You’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to access it, because of course you will. The built-in microphone handles the audio, and you can even share your screen during sessions. The system even includes noise filtering technology that automatically adjusts to your surroundings and maintains voice clarity regardless of your distance from the console.

Nintendo’s official stance? They’re not spying. They just want to catch the bad apples who ruin online gaming for everyone else. Whether you trust them is entirely up to you.