Nintendo slammed as new Switch feature has 'ridiculous' requirement
There's no doubt that today is a big day for Nintendo and fans alike as the Switch 2 is finally in our hands, yet some new console owners have been left with a sour taste in their mouths after being blocked by one of the biggest new feature's 'ridiculous' requirements.
Between blockbuster new games and long-requested features, there is plenty to be excited about with the new Nintendo Switch 2, especially as fans have been waiting for an upgrade to the best-selling console for years.
Worries about stock availability have thankfully been avoided, especially as certain retailers have introduced new opportunities to get your hands a console, but even those lucky enough to nab one aren't always happy.
The Switch 2's new 'C' button is home to Nintendo's all-new game chat functionality, which allows you to seamlessly communicate with your friends and even activate a video feed if you've got the right accessories.
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There is a small caveat that comes with using this long-awaited feature though, and it's turned an otherwise exciting day for some fans into one filled with frustration.
As shared by u/Pastella449 on the r/NintendoSwitch subreddit, it has been revealed that you need to verify your phone number in order to use the Switch 2's new GameChat functionality.
"To use GameChat, you'll need to confirm your phone number via text message. You'll need your smartphone, so make sure it's nearby. GameChat can't be used until phone-number verification is complete," reads the official instructions you'll be greeted with when setting up your Switch 2.
"I speak for everyone when I say, we won't be doing that," writes one angry gamer, adding that phone-verification is a "ridiculous requirement" in order to use GameChat.
"This is an odd move, I don't understand the point," adds another. "It's not like they're trying to prevent multiple accounts fraud like other services, it's just voice chat already tied to your Nintendo account."
What appears to be at the heart of this decision though is child safety measures, as it prevents anyone who doesn't have a phone - which is most likely going to be children - from using communication features.
"Is this per Switch or per profile?" Asks one parent in the thread. "How does it work for my kids who don't have phones? Can you use the same number on multiple accounts?"
Replying to that comment, another shares Nintendo's official information which states that players under the age of 16 must have the GameChat feature activated in the Parental Controls app, which uses the phone number of the parent for verification.
It's unfortunately not just age that's causing issues though, as some users are reporting that their country's phone number isn't officially recognized by Nintendo, and therefore cannot be verified for GameChat.
"No, just checked," writes a comment in reply to someone asking if Russian numbers work. "Ukrainian and Belarusian numbers aren't supported as well."
Whether this is just a bug or an intended feature that won't be fixed is unclear at this point in time, but it is understandably frustrating for anyone who wanted to take advantage of GameChat but now can't simply because of where they live.