Nintendo Explains Why Switch 2 GameChat Stream Footage Looks So Choppy
The Nintendo Switch 2 has a few new bells and whistles, including a GameChat feature that allows players to see and speak with each other while playing games on the console. Unfortunately, the footage of GameChat streaming that Nintendo shared during the Switch 2 Direct was very choppy, and fans were quick to express their concerns. According to Nintendo, there’s a reason why the footage of shared gameplay had poor frame rates, and the reason isn’t exactly reassuring.
GameSpot reported that GameChat’s footage was laggy because Nintendo intentionally prioritized gameplay on the Switch 2 system, giving GameChat the “smallest footprint possible” while still keeping the feature functional. Takuhiro Dohta, Hardware Director of the Switch 2, explained the company’s reasoning to GameSpot (through a translator):
“So obviously, chat is meant to run and work simultaneously and coincide with the game you’re playing. But we also think it’s critical that it doesn’t get in the way of the game that’s running right now. And so we wanted to definitely make sure we do was to make sure that running game chat alongside the game doesn’t result in the game experience or quality being reduced at all in any way.“
The GameChat feature is accessed by pressing the Switch 2’s new C button, the functionality of which surprised fans when Nintendo explained it in last week’s Switch 2 Direct.
The Switch 2 Is Obviously Less Powerful Than A Gaming PC
Nintendo May Have Overreached With The Switch 2’s Capabilities
According to the company, games for the Switch 2 will be getting bigger and more complex as time goes on, which also factored into its decision to keep GameChat simple. Speaking to GameSpot, Dohta said that Nintendo saved room for all the Switch 2’s new capabilities, saying, “Another important thing is that with the Nintendo Switch 2 we’re going to see more and more titles come out, and again, we really want to make sure that reservation of space is going to them. And so that’s another factor here for us.”
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While Nintendo wants to keep the focus of the Switch on games, a handheld console cannot rival the processing power of a gaming PC. With that said, Nintendo may have bitten off more than it can chew with the addition of GameChat. While the ability to see other players is novel, users have higher expectations of visual and streaming quality after using other applications like Discord. Because of the choppy frame rates of other players’ gameplay, GameChat pales in comparison to other streaming options.
Our Take: GameChat Frame Rate Might Make The Feature Unappealing
Fans Aren’t Ready To Fully Embrace The Switch 2
Nintendo has faced no shortage of backlash following the Switch 2 Direct, and fans seem to be getting more reasons to feel concerned. Many see GameChat as a useless feature since free services like Twitch and Discord can essentially do the same thing GameChat does.
The news that GameChat will only be accessible to players who have a Nintendo Switch Online membership further upset fans. Now that Nintendo has made it clear that GameChat streams will have a poor frame rate regardless of connectivity, there’s little reason to use the feature in the first place, especially if players will be paying for what they might deem a low-quality chat service.
Players did not react as positively to the Switch 2 as Nintendo presumably hoped, and the more information shared about the console, the more fan opinion seems to drop. Nintendo can save the GameChat feature by overhauling its specifications, perhaps at the cost of the Switch 2’s overall functionality, or by making the service free to use. Either way, players will have to wait for the system’s release before making a decision on the GameChat feature — if they choose to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 at all.
Source: GameSpot
