The latest "Nintendo Switch My Way" adverts, which show off Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Party, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, are part of an ongoing campaign to show a bunch of diverse people playing the Switch in different scenarios. Unlike the recent Super Bowl adverts, which pretended like COVID didn't exist, the Switch ads are all about how the console can bring people together despite the pandemic.
But one strange thing has stuck out in a few of these ads: the people playing games are not using the Nintendo Switch Online app to voice chat, instead preferring to talk to each other via video chat and phone calls. In a now-unlisted trailer (maybe because it caused a bunch of Americans to panic about the seemingly increased price of the console), Canadian actress Annie Murphy uses her laptop to call her mum - who is, notably, not her on-screen mum from Schitt's Creek, Moira Rose, but her real-life, actual mum.
Has Nintendo ditched their voice chat app just as quickly as they gave it to us, amid Animal Crossing: New Horizons' pandemic launch? Or are they just acknowledging that most people would prefer to use more robust chat options?
[source youtu.be]
Comments 55
Every single time I get on Smash it's like HEY LISTEN use our voice chat K and every single time, I don't, Discord is far better
I doubt anyone will miss it. By the way, anyone remember that voice chat peripheral for Splatoon 2? That was hilarious.
It was pretty pointless to begin with. If you're going to be using a phone then you already have a billion different ways to communicate with friends. I've only ever used the app for SplatNet and the Animal Crossing keyboard.
To be honest, I never knew it existed. But then my only friends on the Switch are my Animal Crossing island residents and they are always too busy fishing to talk
No one uses it so they probably forgot it exists. Hopefully if by some miracle they remembered it exists they’ve realized being obstinate about stuff like voice chat makes them look bad and irritates people.
@ObeseChihuahua2 I have one of those Splatoon 2 adaptor things. Haven't used it much for voice chat but it comes in handy time to time when I want to play a game and watch YouTube at the same time with headphones on or something.
Nintendo’s online chat rubbish.
Completely forgot it existed. I don’t really do multiplayer so thats probably why.
Still I can understand Nintendo’s aversion to built in voice chat. With online safety a growing issue and people’s tendency to point fingers at the providers rather than themselves, sometimes better just not to get involved.
80 million switches later, voice chat didn't seem to make a difference ... and they provide a safe environment for kids
I love how one of the requirements for voice chat is owning a smartphone. At that point just call them!
The ad's are very sugar coated, for the UK market anyway, more suited to the US.
I genuinely forgot it existed as well. Discord's just easier. Hell, the only things I use Nintendo's Online app for are searching for custom Smash stages and keeping track of my furniture in Animal Crossing.
At least they're doing a better job representing reality and how people tend to play their games, haha. The app was very cubersome. I enjoyed the extra features for Splatoon 2 back when I still played that, after I quit that game though the entire app became a waste of memory on my phone. Would much rather prefer a rudimentary message feature, so that at least I can move conversations to a better platform. I recognize that's asking for too much though.
Could not be 100% correct on this, but one pattern that I've noticed over time is that Nintendo likes to pretend that their less successful products never happened to begin with — as in, they are never mentioned in their announcements or ads. I recall that one of their meetings a while ago featured some generic talk on the next console that they plan to produce, featuring infographs on their history as console makers, which conveniently skipped over some of the less popular consoles such as GCN and Wii U. I presume this app is on its way to suffer the same fate.
I forgot about Nintendo in general
@Zeldawakening it actually puts kids at an increased risk of being groomed. The lack of matchmaking and in game voice chat pushes them to use sites like Reddit, Discord or WhatsApp to find people to game with, these are all unmoderated (to a certain extent) and can lead to kids giving out personal details like mobile numbers etc.
did anyone buy the contraption to use it with the phone
It was stupid and unnecessary. They did it to try and be “different” in reality it was bad. Just go with the modern solution everyone is using. Hell they used it on Wii U. Crazy how even though switch sold better by far Wii U had some better features. Nintendo needs to stop with the gimmicks. Even the HD rumble in my option was a waste of money and unless.
@Qwertyninty i wish theyd release joycons without it and cut the price down
@ObeseChihuahua2 I actually bought one for the splitter and cables alone. The cables are long enough to let you connect to your Switch across the room and then plug in your phone so you get all through the same headset.
this is completely different in Japan. Where they play together
@Mr-Fuggles777
Probably right. But Nintendo are still terrified of the Online world. The main concern of the fusty old men who (I suspect) make these decisions is that if it’s not on a Nintendo service Nintendo can be blamed. Corporate thinking at its best.
Nothing wrong with the app. It's really easy and the connection is always good. I tried to use Discord and couldn't find any servers by searching keywords. Waste of time.
Firstly you can’t give a game 10/10 and list flaws with the game!
‘ Chris Scullion points out in his 10/10 review, the game doesn't even have voice chat’
Secondly I’ve been pointing this out all month! It’s a 4player co-op with no voice chat! Which the adverts keep pushing with voice chat!
I’m sure there’s a sayin for this?
At least this way the kids only speak to people they know, Well done Nintendo for doing voice chat in a sensible way!
In the age where almost everyone has access to mobile phones and Facetime, do we really need voice chat in our games? Not trying to troll anyone who uses or likes the feature, just seriously asking the question. It's starting to feel like a relic of a bygone era.
@Lord Firstly NintendoLife's scoring policy states:
10 - Outstanding
Of course no game is ever truly perfect, but a score of ten indicates that it is an outstanding example in the current climate of games. We don't dish this score out lightly, this is a genre defining game that we absolutely feel you should own.
Secondly, yeah, I don't think that with bad online and no voice chat that it should be a 10/10. Especially with the misleading commercials.
Or, just hear me out cough Nintendo cough... Make voice chat an integrated part of your system like on every other G*****N console, PC, Iphone, Ipad, Tablet, etc. device out there you FECKING MOOKS!!!
Probably because Nintendo doesn't know how to do online stuff very well at all.
It's almost mind boggling how Nintendo can be so good at one thing (Switch itself) and yet be totally clueless when it comes to basic functionality for online services (like chat).
I'm still confused about the Nintendo Switch's alleged inability to have voice chat directly in the system despite it doing exactly that with games like Fortnite and DC Universe Online. At the very least, issuing voice commands in certain games should be possibly with a communicator headset.
@mjharper
Having it “just work” by being console level instead of needing a separate device like a phone makes sense especially when it’s part of a paid subscription service.
@Shadowthrone Which is interesting since Fortnite and a multitude of other games, when played in handheld mode, have their own integrated VC.
Only Nintendo.
“Voice chat? Just use your phone.
Also give me $20”
Lmao
@mjharper uh yeah...
Unless you only like hearing your friends and not the game.
Fortunately Nintendo’s service is so bad you’re only really ever going to play the games locally.
@BenAV When you realize you are the best person on nintnedo life
Who the hell wants voice chat especially on a Nintendo system so they can be insulted by some foul mouthed teenager? That would be real convenient when grandma walks in on an intense session of fortnite only to hear F bomb after F bomb! Why do you think they got rid of miiverse?
@ObeseChihuahua2 I wish I had one because I play a lot of games with friends through phone and having two inputs would be nice so they don't need to hear my gameplay.
"Does my best geezer voice."
In my day we played games together in the living room! you could see your friends faces while you teased them about losing or insulted their mother with the most disgusting yo momma jokes! You whipper snappers with yoor voice chat!
@Anguspuss I have one and use it all the time when I play games with friends online. We usually use Discord for chat, but I like to have the game sounds in my ear as well. My game room is small so it works for me, but I’d certainly prefer that they make a real party chat system through the console.
I like voice chat options, but the value of the Switch App is that people don't expect you to use it. I sometimes don't want to join strangers in random online games, and the Switch setup gives everyone a perfect excuse to not participate. It works just fine when you actually want to use it.
I like games that have keyboard support for communication (MHGU)
It's like an admission of guilt.
@Lord "Firstly you can’t give a game 10/10 and list flaws with the game!"
Why not?
I've got contacts on my Switch list who I've been unable to contact for literal YEARS because these people either deleted all their social media, or I friended them originally via the 3DS which had no native messaging system. I pay for this s-t too yet I can't communicate. I hate this most about Switch. 😡😩
I honestly had no idea 3D world had online multiplayer.
@idrawrobots I think Nintendolife touches on 3D World's online play in their video review, there are some slowdown issues with online play using the pre-release review copy, but they were cautious, and stated that maybe Nintendo would put out an update to fix it after game release. We'll see.
Never felt the need to or for voice chat in my gaming experience
I really think nintendo doesn't want to do online gaming at all, they are ok with digital games on an eshop but i don't think they really wanna do multi player stuff. Personally i prefer offline gaming and if i do venture into online gaming, the mute button is the first thing i go for.
The NSO app's voice chat has faded into the background while the Game-Specific services seem to be the only reason why people, including me, use the app.
That being said, it's ironic how the Wii U GamePad was closer to the DualSense than both the Joy Cons and Switch Pro Controller. A built-in mic on the controller is more preferable than a phone app.
@Jam78
Splatoon: "Am I a joke to you?"
I like these adverts. Not a headset or silly 'gaming chair' (lol) in sight. Gaming, the way God intended.
I hate Voice Chats in Games, you hear People you don't want to hear.
It is incredible how many Times i have somebody in Monster Hunter World in it that Breaths likes he's exercicing...
Most People on the PC using Voice Chat use Team Speak or Discord to stay private.
@mjharper I always quit a lobby, search all members on facetime, friend with them and we chat there forever. so convenient!
you dont understand this whole new world, do you? are you a nintendo emloyee perhaps?
@Zeldafan79 fanboism lvl999. who the hell would do voicechat in mario which only ***** and predators play, right? mario community is like fortnite, right?
omg, really?
@Shadowthrone this terrible service is free at least. oh wait.
@Zeldafan79 mute bottoms exist. It’s far simpler to have native voice chat and mute the few then to leave it up to the customer to find creative other ways to communicate.
@Zeldafan79 Yeah that's a terrible argument and always has been.
For a start, if you don't want to listen to foul mouth teenagers, why are you putting the headset on in the first place?. What kind of moron would out on a headset if they didn't want to hear other people?
Secondly, other platforms have dedicated party systems, meaning you can pick and choose who you socialise with in online spaces.
Just because the feature is there, doesn't mean you have to use it. Not wanting others to have a feature you don't have to use is the epitome of selfish.
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