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A year ago, Nintendo fans were desperate to discover the hidden purpose behind the Switch 2’s C Button — which was later revealed to be for the console’s GameChat.
At the time of GameChat’s announcement, the idea sounded fun enough — you could voice chat with friends (or use video with a USB camera) and share a feed of your gameplay with others. Nintendo also confirmed that it would eventually move the service behind a paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription on April 1, 2026 — a date that elapsed yesterday.
Now, Nintendo seems keen for you to remember that the C Button exists, and for you to press it again the next time you play Switch 2. (Even if you press it by mistake instead of the Home button, as I do every time I play.)
Indeed, beginning this week, Nintendo will hand over 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points and allow you to unlock a series of user icons just for loading up GameChat. (Nintendo really wants you to load up GameChat.)
“A new mission is buzzing in!” reads a message on Nintendo’s website that advertises the rewards. “Until April 22 at 5:59pm PT, Nintendo Switch Online members can earn 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points by hopping into GameChat, an exclusive feature for the Nintendo Switch 2 system that lets you group up and hang out with friends and family. You’ll then be able to redeem your points for themed icon elements, which you can use to create a fresh look for your user icon.
“You can start GameChat by tapping the icon on the HOME Menu on your Nintendo Switch 2 system or by pressing the C Button on your Joy-Con™ 2 controller. If you haven’t completed the initial setup for GameChat yet, you’ll need to do so before you can get your reward. To collect your Platinum Points, please visit the Nintendo Switch Online app on your system within 30 days of completing this mission. The mission and icon elements are available until April 22 at 5:59 pm PT.”
I’m sure some people are using GameChat, but the buzz from Nintendo fans online is that the majority of Switch 2 owners don’t use it much, while others have never tried it all — meaning they’re unlikely to subscribe to Switch Online now just to give it a go. (And to be fair, there are plenty of other, more likely reasons to have a Switch Online membership already.)
Regardless, it seems like Nintendo is not yet ready to let GameChat slip off into the night as it becomes a premium feature that presumably even fewer people will use. Whether you personally think opening GameChat is worth those 100 points or not, the offer is there if you fancy. (Nintendo would really like it if you did.)
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
