How To Invite Friends And Use Voice Chat On The Nintendo Switch Online App

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/173/576/Wat8.jpg?1315930535

step one: get some friends

You use your phone to talk to people? Wow. Amazing technology not on the Switch. Nintendo worried about the weak battery on the Switch but don't mind tying up our phones, causing convolution and running down our phone battery instead. Thanks.

It's like trying to Scan a Paper on my Printer.

Can you use voice chat during a game or is it restricted to the lobby?

I guess they have to justify the DeNA partnership somehow.

Maybe I'm missing something but, why didn't MK8 Deluxe require this?

@Talkshowhost both

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can still connect with friends without the app, right?

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I know you're being facetious, but this is no ordinary phone call. This is capable of group chat. Show me one phone that is capable of group call. Nintendo Switch4lyfe!

EDIT: Seriously though, I love my Switch =) It is pretty advanced in some areas, but this solution is just... bad.

Not that confusing...just convoluted. It's a very "Nintendo" solution. LOL.

Not really sure why this stuff can't be implemented on the system level like every other console not made by Nintendo. Needless switching between app and system and for a console that is meant to be taken on the go as well as at home just makes it much worse.

I eagerly look forward to paying for online that isn't even on par with the original xbox.

I've let up on Nintendo lately as the games for the Switch are definitely pretty good (not great, but satisfactory for year one) but I cannot let this crap online slide.

In summary: play Splatoon 2 and other games without voicechat, if you want to talk to friends, calling them was probably easier.

@roadrunner343 Um, any smartphone with a VoIP app can do this. Heck, any smartphone with Skype/FaceTime can do this. This is not something unique to the Switch. I don't mind the setup, it's not ideal but it's not a deal-breaker...but your comment about smartphones not being able to do group calls was a really ignorant comment. All smartphones can group call.

@gatorboi352

@DarthFoxMcCloud I thought ending with Nintendo Switch4lyfe! would have sufficed, but apparently I should have ended with a /sarcasm as well? Of course, just about any ordinary phone has been able to make group/conference calls for the past 20 years =)

EDIT: And the edit in my last comment makes it pretty clear it was a joke (Which was made well before your post). Either way, obviously it was a joke, not ignorance. Also, look at the comment I was replying to. Hopefully you didn't take that one seriously either.

Incredibly stupid. You can't even use the app in the background.

Well, it's better than nothing. I think I'll just used discord.

It looks like Petey has made a room!

Also people on gaf have confirmed the app disconnects once screen goes in sleep/idle mode so you have to have display on at all times.

This app is a joke.

I don't get this app at all,over complicating such a simple thing,get a phone call app stops,reply to txt message app stops so on and so on.

@Damo Alright, thanks.

Way too overcomplicated for what it does and will never use it

It's pretty odd you have to juggle two handheld devices just for online play communication. Something so simple looks so complicated... I'm not a fan of this.

I love Nintendo! <3

Just a note people - Mixing the Game sound from the SWITCH with VOICE chat is actually very simple - it just needs an unpowered mini mixer that supports Mic. - One of these is supplied with the HORI Splatoon Splat and Chat headset and also the other HORI SWITCH gaming headset. . . .( the black sci-fi looking one lol) The Hori one also looks like a SQUID! which is bloody cool imho. .

Don't get cooked!

This is one of those times when Nintendo deserves to be criticised heavily, as this whole solution is stupidly cumbersome and unnecessary.

Sounds stupid. Love it when a company purposefully gimps something because they feel the need to be everyone's parent.

I actually think this isn't as clunky and convoluted as people believe it to be. In fact, I think this is gonna change how the industry does friend invites

Think about it. The worse feeling is going online and finding out your whole squad was on hour ago. You weren't online, but problem isn't that you weren't available. Its that invites are only visible on the console. And that frustration would be doubled with something like the Switch, which has a short battery life and shouldn't be turned on and off just to check for notifications. If only we had a device for quick communication that we carried everywhere you go.

Oh wait, you do. Your smartphone. Now, anywhere you are, you can be invited into a game. Literally anywhere you have service: Your phone dings, you tether your Switch, you're playing with friends. Done. Its genius.

Mixing chat and game audio seems to be a big deal and I just can't understand why. Especially with a Bluetooth set. Why not just keep one headphone in and the other out? Most chat mics are made for one ear anyway.

And when have you known Nintendo not to add features to a service? All messaging could be handled through the app. Messages, screenshots, video, simultaneously sent to your friends phone and Switch. Save data tethered to your phones app, so you can take it to whatever Switch you want

I don't know, seems people are bashing something different again. Ima be psyched for that first invite. It'll make me want to have my Switch wherever my phone is. I'm pumped for this

I just downloaded it but then I just deleted it lol

Whelp, just like how i got into Splatoon, i'll try it and get feedback

I guess I will see if it works for me or not. It seems like a hassle but there also seems to be some positives to doing it this way as well. I really don't know if it will work for me or not right now.

I just want an "allow auto group chat feature" for random pub games.
So if other players want to voice chat with their random group they can.
It'd still require permission so i don't see why this would be a big deal?

Personally I hate in game chat. There is always some idiot up for ruing it. So I won't be getting the app and gubbins to go with it.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-07-19-nintendos-new-online-service-looks-like-it-could-be-every-bit-as-bad-as-you-feared

@FatAlbert1 but this can already be done on the PlayStation mobile app. This was implemented a long time ago. You can chat message when your not in your console

@FatAlbert1 you are living in some fantasy land. This app is a joke and nobody else is gonna follow Nintendo with this.

I will use Discord thank you very much

What an overly complicated process. I would have expected Nintendo to learn from MS and Sony on how to run a decent infrastructure, but alas.

I can see some advantages when you're on the go but it sounds like so much hassle.

Then again I primarily play solo so barely anything off my back.

Still, I wonder what the user numbers of this app will be compared to those who will just use other chat apps. Maybe there'll be a rethink if theu were to see that only 25% or less of current players on Splatoon 2 are using it.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Normally I scroll down to the comments just to see your crazy pessimistic and usually delusional contribution, but let's just say that this particular decision... this is something I think we could have a beer over.

How will this work in terms of game capture? I take it recording devices will only record sound coming through the system so team banter won't be able to get captured??

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Your statements about using the Nintendo Online application are false, as usual.

The only reason I'd use this is if it were the only way to talk with randos online. Since it's friends only, it'd be easier to set up a discord chat for this. You can set up rooms for teams just fine, and it runs on phones and computers, and probably performs way better than any online nintendo application ever will.

Lol you can't hear the game and the voice chat at the same time, if you're not using a special headset?! That's a new level of stupidity

Bowser is behind this complicated mess in some way. I just know it.

Skype, Discord and Facebook calls can run in the background on your phone so might as well use that instead.
You can't even hear the game sounds mixed in the app? And no cross-game chat either? What's the point?
This is Virtual Boy stupidity!

Utter pooh!

@Cosats

Saying it doesn't make it so. Backing up your statement would help.

"You can use wireless Bluetooth headphones for voice chat, but remember that you'll only hear the voices of other players - all the in-game sounds will still be restricted to the Switch itself."

I don't understand why people are getting upset about this. This is how every other Console Chat Functionality Started and how the vast Majority of Non-PC Gamers Play regardless.

@FatAlbert1 I agree with you 100%!

This whole voice chat mess is definitely a step backwards, the Wii U sort of took a step forward with the voice chat in Smash and MK8 lobbies, but the fact that they decided to not have a solution inside the Switch or have it be compatible with some sort of wireless headphones with a mic is a joke. I see most people just using their phone or computer on the side with Discord, Skype, etc rather than this.

@Pluto14 is not the headset. It's a little sub-mixer that sends that extra channel for the mic.... It's really simple. . Once you have a mixer for this ( the hori squid mixer for example) any mic headset should work with this.

Does everybody here realise, that, with the hori Headset option ( or similar, more will be coming to market) you won't have to put up with that old godawful problem of hearing everyone else's gunfire and music sound through your own chat earphones!!!!! Brilliant!

The most bone-headed part of this is that the app stops functioning if the screen goes to sleep. Nintendo had better fix that asap or people aren't going to bother using this garbage app if it remains in its currently half-baked state.

I'll be using my home landline. I get free evening and weekend calls

S

@kobashi100 this can't be true.

This should ALL happen on the Switch, and they should allow wireless headsets and voice chat through the system itself!

So this app might cause image burn-in if you can't let the screen go to sleep if you plan to play for a few hours.

I don't ever really use voice chat so I don't care about the Switch having no mic, but I'm still getting the app for extra features

@FatAlbert1 Exactly my perspective. Great post. Seeing as we're landed with this method of voice chat, I hope they innovate with it like you have described.

As it is I have unlimited minutes on my mobile so I sometimes call my player 2 on speakerphone when we play MK8D. This seems very similar to that - as well as using external hardware to voice chat on Steam, such as a microphone or Webcam.

Totally happy with the go and use anywhere possibilities and listening to voice chat on speaker or in one ear.

Also, my phone allows split screen multitasking so it'll be interesting to see if that works.

So this won't work with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? I guess we can hope it gets added.

App idea seems fine for doing invites and setting up teams ect but just get the chat on the console where it should be. In handheld mode everything needed is right there, just plug in head headset. TV and tabletop is a problem as the only BT radio seems to have a issue working with both low power and normal bluetooth at the same time

@cfgk24 Ooh okay thanks for the explanation, but still, for people who have no experience with using headsets or other accessoiries (people like me), it's still a complex and devious idea to handle this the way Nintendo does. It looks like Nintendo really wants to sell the Switch to a mainstream audience, but if you want that you shouldn't come up with ideas like thidm

To be fair on the criticism, no app is perfect on day 1. Luckily Nintendo has a feedback feature so there's something.

But for now, I'll just stick to Facebook Messenger.

This is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. I refuse to download or use this app. If it can't be done within the Switch then forget it.

seriously I just want to pick up console controller & play the bloody game. I dont have time or patience anymore to muck around.

It all still seems pretty cumbersome and stupid.

So dumb

Consensus around the internets seems to be like 97% negative if not higher. Surely they'll address this? Kind of essential to the initial popularity of this game online, right? Today is different than the complaints surrounding the app when 1st announced - lots of flow and function of this are what ppl are taking issue with now - and not just disliking, but HATING.

This is utterly asinine.

I know I can over-exaggerate, but this is genuinely a step back from the Wii U.

@RainbowGazelle I came here to say the same thing. This is 100% legitimately worse than the WiiU online. Even my Nintendo DS online was better than this 13 years ago.

@ZiggyZane The DS had voice chat and that came out in 2004...

There is no other way to describe this but plain c**p. I love my Switch nut whoever thought this was a solution (when the PS4 and Xbox one have been on the market for years with integrated voice chat) should be fired.

So it'll drain my battery, if I read a message or get a call my chat goes off, if we change game in the future we'll all be disconnected until we boot that game. I can't hear the game and chat from the same source unless I buy a special headset and possibly an extra cable and then it doesn't sound like it works when playing as a home console. Well done Nintendo

I'm not even going to read the other comments, because you guys will make my head explode if you're defending this.

Nintendo does not understand the most basic elements of playing video games online. If ever you needed concrete evidence of that, here it is.

Can't get it to work on a supervised account, either. I can connect to my account, but when my son tries to connect the app to his account I supervise, he's told he needs to connect that account to a Switch. Which, of course, he's already done. Too many steps here between what we want and how we do it, which makes troubleshooting a pain.

I'm just going to use discord. Much easier.

If I cared for chat, I would go for something easier, which seems to be discord..which I never used...so meh.

Yeah, I'm no tech guru, but couldn't they have just made it so you plug some kind of bluetooth device into the Switch headphone jack and then wear a wireless headset? Seems WAAAAAY easier.

How much would it decrease the battery life if the voice chat ran through the system?

I don't terribly mind using my phone for this but I would have much rather them just include the functionality in the device. Battery life isn't an issue as I'll gladly play docked or use a battery when I'm on the go. I have a sneaky suspicion that this functionality will eventually make its way to the device. I'm sure the phone app works but it seems a bit hokie...

Its just about as convoluted as you would expect a 3 way with a smartphone to be.

And for some people asking for Bluetooth to "simplify" the 3 way with a smartphone, the Switch should just be able to handle voice chat on it's own without a smartphone (which the PSP could do).

And for the people saying having the Switch do the voice chat would drain the Switch's battery, you have to have your Switch plugged in or using an external battery if you're playing a AAA game on the go anyway, especially if you're playing online.

Not to mention using your smartphone for voice chat will drain your smartphone's battery, and now you have to have both your Switch and your smartphone plugged into something.

The app is terrible. Thank god I don't care about voice chat.

This is an embarrassment even by "lolnintendo" standards. The sad thing is, Splatnet 2 is pretty cool, but the service it's tied to is garbage.

@idrawrobots it can't possibly be much. I have Bluetooth 4.0 heart rate monitors that use a small little lithium battery and last several months being used for an hour a day. A Bluetooth chat headset or even a set to plug in couldn't possibly make that large an impact on battery performance. Heck they could make bank selling headsets just like the 90$ block of plastic known as the dock. I want another dock but it should be like 30$ not almost 1/3 the console price. Serious price gouge by Nintendo on that one.

did no one at Nintendo have a pair of balls to turn around & tell the idiots what fffffffffff muppet thinks this is a good idea. Just looking at the steps to set it up (the fact it needed a website to put a guide up says it all) is just nuts. I also think seeing is this was part of Splatoon launch the games magic 10 score should be knocked down as part of the game requires this garbage for online chat. & they want you to pay for the online service your winding me up surely. Or maybee this will be free & they will have a simple say bluetooth headset solution for the paid one. Simple answer no one use it no one pay for online service till they bloody get something user friendly.

Not quite clunky enough. I need this to make it complete:

https://c.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/splatoon-2-headset-cables.png

@WiiHawk when I setup my son's Switch I actually created a new account for him and made him 10 years older. Nintendo is too restrictive and makes things way too difficult when trying to do things. I'm not worried about him playing anything inappropriate from Nintendo. Seeing as I purchase his games I know what is going on. Also since he needs a smartphone to chat online I don't have that to worry about.

I don't like voice chat so I won't be using it except for looking at what maps are up. On a side-note though, I'm seeing all kinds of noise on the internet talking about how awful the app is for voice chat. Not sure how much of it is true, but it seems Nintendo isn't off to a good start with it.

@Pluto14 I don't think it's devious - - its just how musicians and sound engineers mix signals into one. . .- for example - a band of 4 musicians - guitar, bass, drums and sax - playing 4 different instruments but need the sound coming out of the same stage speakers - it all just gets mixed into one sound output to go in one direction - in this case - the headphones - the difference here his that the clever little mixer has an extra channel to carry the microphone voice signal back down the line - through the mixer and into the smartphone - normal stage or music mixers don't have that 2- way wiring. . .

@FatAlbert1 Lol. This exists for Xbox and PlayStation already, and it's implemented in those consoles!

Yeah, **** that. I love my switch but this is ridiculous. I don't use voice chat on my ps4 either but I have a bluetooth headset, the one thing required if I wanted too..

Sounds like people are better off using Skype, and that's ridiculous for a console in 2017.

Ha ha ha ha ha, are people actually defending this crap? XDDD

I love my Switch, but the issue of voice chat is a train wreck on it. I will most likely use Discord for voice chat an manage game audio as the situation dictates. This is really a bad way of handling this basic game feature. Really disappointing. Cheers.

Calm down, everyone!
I know that this app and voice chat solution is terrible, but I have a few fixes for your problems. (Only on Android)

1. Can't use the app on split screen:
Go to developer options and enable "force split screen" at the bottom, restart.

2. Can't use the app on landcape(nyko power grip):
Download "Rotation Control", done.

3. Voice chat is disabled if the app sleeps:
Download "Blackr" and enjoy voice chat with no more screen drain.

*Or just use discord

I can't believe people are actually defending this

https://twitter.com/WreckinRod
That dude led the team of engineers who designed the app. Maybe we can send him some questions/feedback? Lock screen update, etc.

@GamerMegaMan

Yeah let's force the user to download two other apps and turn on developer mode. This is the biggest mess I have ever seen and I'm pretty sure no one will use it in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for posting this article, it's pretty helpful for answering some questions I had (at least I know we can play with friends without the app which was important to me because my kids don't have their own cell phones). Quite a mess though, isn't it?

This is so laughably bad.

I and some others have decided to just use Discord. Can set up lobbies and invite friends without the app, so... ya. Screw it. Discord will work.

And, I imagine I can still use that Hori squid device to combine my Discord audio with Switch audio. Problem solved.

You can keep your app Nintendo. We're good.

Although I love the Switch itself, this app is pathetic. I don't even own a Android or iPhone, so it's useless to me. And even if I did, there are so many little things that make the experience awful.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE

You like to complain a lot about trivial things, don't you?

@gatorboi352

Because they wanted to hear you complain, obviously. Mission accomplished.

@Technosphile
"Nintendo does not understand the most basic elements of playing video games online."

Wait, so we can't play these games with and/or against other people via the internet?

@JpGamerGuy90

Oh no, Nintendo, you've done messed up now. This inconsequential stranger in a comments section can't let your online slide. Better shut it down quick before he gets real serious and starts whining like a baby. Oh wait, too late.

@EVIL-C

Yeah. How dare someone complicate things when it comes to playing video games. Video games are the most important thing in our lives and it should be easy all the time. These trivial problems irritate me so much I just have to whine about it in comment sections.

What if we somehow get the majority of Switch players to boycott the app, that would probably force Nintendo to offer something better.

@Dudrap1
It didn't work on a software level with Federation Force (thankfully), it won't work on a hardware level.

This is one of the silliest concepts I've seen in a long time. I love the Switch and hope to goodness they don't ruin it. I've never owned a cell phone, and don't plan to. I find texting pointless, and I don't want to talk to anyone while I'm doing things. This app just creates an extra layer of steps that I would have to use a clarpy tablet to win a match, because everyone else has an organized team.

The fact this even needs any sort of guide just goes to show how silly it is. I can't believe I have to use a smart phone for voice chat. Not only that but my phone is a little out of date... so I need a new one. A smart phone is a very expensive chat peripheral.

My experiences with Xbox live and probably the general reputation of people on that service is likely at least partly why Nintendo is doing this. The Xbox live community is toxic and vile. And Nintendo probably thinks they are protecting kids from that. I don't really think that's needed, but I understand their idea.

I don't mind this app though. Most people use their smartphones all the time anyway, in Japan especially smartphones are everywhere. More people have them than laptops or PCs.

However I am pretty bummed at how bare bones this app is. Why can't I see my friends list or send direct messages? These are things that SHOULD be part of the app, and I hope they get added later.

This app is DOA. The moment people find out you can't use it when the phone goes to sleep mode it's gone to be deleted quickly. A big oversight from Nintendo.

Good luck using this in docked mode people. Imagine using this sitting a far distance from TV. Absolute mess.

Yare yare daze!

How did this get through Playtesting? Whoever's in charged should be fired.

@N4LIFE this is the world of Nintendo dude. They seem to take pride and doing things like this.

I've rarely used voice chat anyways, but this could have been SO much simpler, and I don't just mean having it on the console. If the application let you talk in a group without being in a game, that would be cool to help coordinate and stuff. This is just ridiculous, especially if it doesn't work when your screen is off or if you change to a different application.

They had one job- take discord, stream it into the switch. that's all! instead they couldn't manage to simply copy discord's already functioning execution. And you're telling me Nintendo PAID someone to create this mess?

At this point, I'm just grateful I have other options like discord and party chat on PS4, than to be stuck using something like this.

Boycott Splatoon 2 and they will learn to listen.

@FatAlbert1 so uh, you do realize things like Google Hangouts, Skype and other smartphone based chat solutions have been available for years, right?

@The_Gerudo_King

...The F*** is your problem?! I guess everything is perfect to you.
One look through your comment history tells me you're either a troll to everyone on this site, or you truly never question anything and love taking it in the rear by every company in existence.

@Syrek24 Same, a lot of Nintendo's hate is overblown hyperbole from Whiny, self-entitled people, but this idea of theirs is truly unwelcome. At least patch the app so the screen can turn off, and enable a miiverse-like direct message option.

The way Vita handles comms would've been good for switch.

@EVIL-C

Neither actually. I just play the games I like and I don't whine like an entitled brat in comment sections about the things I don't like.

I have real life to deal with, so something trivial like how voice chat is handled in a video game is just something that doesn't show on my radar. And it's laughably sad to see people like you crying over it like it's going to make a difference.

So please carry on. Your crying amuses me. And the fact you scrolled through my comment history just proves how pathetic you are.

@Dudrap1

Yeah because at the end of the day, a trivial video game app is the one thing we should all come together for and put our foot down demanding a change. Who cares about real life issues, we gotta make gaming as sloth-like as possible.

@mikegamer

I can't believe people are complaining about it. Something so trivial and everyone is up in arms. Kids and their toys I guess.

@The_Gerudo_King

Yet, you're doing the same thing. Oh, the irony. 😛

@EVIL-C

Calling you out as a whiny baby is actually worth doing. Maybe you'll grow up a little and realize video games are just a hobby, and a very niche one at that.

Does anyone see any benefit in this setup? There must be some reason Nintendo went down this path other than sheer stupidity.

@GamerMegaMan all my Switch friends have PS4 so we're going to just use that for chat 😃

Well, Nintendo sure succeeded at making a voice chat and invite app that's as convoluted as humanly possible... And the app crashes (or it may as well have) when it's not displayed? What's so complicated about just using the system itself and no phone involved except for external communications?

Well, at least now we have a contender for "worst chat/matchmaking solution of all time"... Makes me appreciate the simpler things in life. Like Discord. Which is ironic, considering the name.

@EVIL-C It's not worth it. They're too far gone, save yourself!

Step 1: Smash Windows 7 Phone to bits for not working with this app.

@electrolite77

Someone's gotta call out the whiny babies like you. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but sometimes the truth hurts.

@PlywoodStick Agreed, lol.

@FatAlbert1 you dont use one headphone for chat and listen to game audio from your switch because thats going to make your teammates hate you. ill block, report, ddox, and hunt down anyone i hear with game audio echoing through their damn mic

@The_Gerudo_King when he makes 5 comments about other people crying cuz he doesnt do that cuz he has a life. no time to write 5 separate comments crying about other people crying, too busy here. lol youre actually worthless

@ohtsichase

It's good to know I'm worthless to a complete stranger on the internet.

@The_Gerudo_King Beats being a sycophant to Nintendo's stupid decisions.

Newsflash- Nintendo is not infallible.

@mikegamer

I never said they weren't. But newsflash, crying about it in a comments section like it's some sort of support group for basement dwelling babies who take video games way too seriously isn't going to change anything.

@The_Gerudo_King Whatever you say.

@mikegamer

Yes, it is whatever I say isn't it?

@The_Gerudo_King

It's a mystery to me how you're not banned. You don't even attempt nonchalance with your needless antagonization. All I ever see from you are your efforts trying to get a rise out of others through personal attacks and condescension.

NL's administration needs to put this kid on a timeout. You'd think a site that forbids swearing would be stricter with trolls. Just my two cents.

@JTMnM

And yet I'm still here. Instead of crying about it, just accept the fact that others will have differing opinions and get over it.
Or you could just block me and then you can keep living in your little safe place on the internet. Either way, just stop being a baby about it.

@The_Gerudo_King

As was expected, you're the first to bring up things like "safe spaces" and how your attacks on people are simply differing "opinions." Enjoy the safety of insulting people from behind a computer screen, though you're probably not as safe as you think you are.

@The_Gerudo_King Oh heaven forbid people have a different opinion than you, this simply cannot be had! Get over it. Argumentum ad hominem, you're sure good at that.

Keep defending Nintendo's stupid decisions, though, I'm sure it'll take you far.

@mikegamer

Let's see, you're arguing with a complete stranger on the internet so I think I'll take life lessons from someone with a little more sense. Nice try though buddy. Your consolation prize is at the door. Have a nice day.

@JTMnM

That's funny cause I'd insult you straight to your face if I could. It's not like you'd be capable of doing anything about it.

@The_Gerudo_King Have fun with the broken online, keep defending them.

@mikegamer

Yeah I am having fun. It's so easy to get under your skin. Why get so mad about something so trivial? Maybe take a break from video games, they're obviously having a negative affect on your ability to enjoy the more important things in life.