Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a camera, but you can also use your own

The Nintendo Switch didn’t make it easy to let you connect with friends and strangers over the internet. The Switch 2, on the other hand, is fully embracing connectivity. To that end, a stand-up camera will be launched alongside the Switch 2 on June 5 that can be used with its GameChat feature.

GameChat functionality varies on a per-game basis, but Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct showcase showed it putting faces within the Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree, letting gamers overlay their faces on their game screens.

The official Switch 2 Camera is $49.99 (and is detailed here), and it plugs into the Switch 2’s USB-C port. You can use it when the console is docked to your TV, or when you’re holding it in your hands. The camera specializes in capturing a wide angle shot, and Nintendo claims that its high-sensitivity image can adjust brightness. There’s also a physical privacy shutter that can be activated when you don’t want the camera to look at you.

If you don’t want to buy Nintendo’s camera, you might have luck plugging in one you already own — assuming it plugs in via USB-C — as Nintendo confirmed USC-C support for third-party cameras. It’s likely there will be some restrictions and limitations, but before you buy a new camera, try plugging in your own, either directly or, if needed, with a USB-A to USB-C adapter.