GameChat is one of the most popular Nintendo Switch 2 features, but it won’t run indefinitely, with a session automatically closing after 24 hours. The Switch 2 is packed with more power than its predecessor, and also comes equipped with a few more bells and whistles, making it easier than ever to enjoy games with friends both near and far.
Ahead of the Switch 2’s full reveal in April, many fans were curious about the new C button on the new Joy-Cons. As it turns out, pressing this will launch a GameChat session, allowing up to 12 players to chat at the same time, with four players also able to share their screen at once. In order to participate in a Switch 2 GameChat session, players must add the desired contacts to their friends list, ensuring that no strangers will join and improving security for the new service. Many gamers are no strangers to pulling all-nighters when it comes to the latest title or a particularly fun multiplayer session, but it looks like GameChat has a maximum time limit before players will need to take a break.
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As reported by Nintendo Soup and initially discovered by YouTuber Nathaniel Bandy, a single GameChat session on the Nintendo Switch 2 can run for up to 24 hours before automatically being closed. All users in the chat will receive a warning 30 minutes before the room’s closure, and will receive subsequent warnings at five minutes and one minute before the 24-hour limit. Thankfully, it’s possible to simply launch another session immediately after. While the service is currently free for all Switch 2 users, GameChat will require an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription starting on April 1, 2026.
A GameChat Session on the Switch 2 Can Run for up to 24 Hours
GameChat is only one of many new features found on the Switch 2, including a faster eShop experience, mouse-like Joy-Con controls, improved sound quality, and tons of space when compared to the original console. Nintendo’s new hybrid console is also much more powerful, and is able to play more robust and graphically intensive titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
As one of the most highly anticipated launches of 2025, the Switch 2 continues to break records, selling three million units globally on its June 5 launch day. It also surpassed the record for most consoles sold in one day, previously held by the PlayStation 4, which shipped one million units on day one back in 2013. Many hopeful gamers are still trying to snag a Switch 2 for themselves, with many retailers struggling to maintain stock.
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Original Release Date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- Operating System
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Proprietary
- Resolution
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR Support
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Yes