You Can Now Use the Nintendo Switch Voice Chat App While in Other Apps or When iPhone is Locked - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

You Can Now Use the Nintendo Switch Voice Chat App While in Other Apps or When iPhone is Locked

by

Ahead of the Nintendo Direct coming this afternoon, Nintendo recently updated its Switch Online voice chat iOS app with a few useful tweaks to the way the software handles chatting online with friends. Prior to the update, you had to keep the app open at all times to hear and be heard by your friends while playing games like Splatoon 2.

Now, Nintendo explains in the app's update notes that you can both browse to other iPhone apps and lock the device, and voice chat will continue to function in the background through the Nintendo Switch Online app.

switch app online features
The expanded functionality of voice chat should greatly enhance the usefulness of Nintendo's app and online services, which will turn into a monthly paid subscription sometime in 2018. Pricing and tiers include $3.99/month, $7.99/3 months, and $19.99/year.

The app first launched on July 18, a few days ahead of Splatoon 2's debut, allowing gamers to visit SplatNet 2 on their iOS device to look at previous match statistics, check out current stages in rotation, and invite friends to Private Battles on the Switch console. Nintendo's upcoming 45-minute Direct will begin this afternoon at 3 p.m PT and plans to focus on games coming to Switch and 3DS consoles.

Top Rated Comments

69Mustang Avatar
113 months ago
I'd be really hard pressed to find a more poorly implemented voice application than Nintendo's. It's one of the biggest disappointments about the Switch.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
shareef777 Avatar
113 months ago
I'd be really hard pressed to find a more poorly implemented voice application than Nintendo's. It's one of the biggest disappointments about the Switch.
As weak as the device is compared to even last years mobile phones, the game content sold me on it. But this lackluster approach to voice just sold me on selling my unit. Mind numbing a company of Nintendo's size chose that approach. Entire departments should be fired for such a move.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
attohs Avatar
113 months ago
No bluetooth on the Switch.
The Joy-Cons and the Pro Controller connect to the Switch using Bluetooth. I wish Switch allowed me to use my AirPods, but it doesn't allow Bluetooth audio devices. Hopefully this changes with a software update.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
113 months ago
As much as I like my Switch, it's crap like this that reminds me that Nintendo is still Nintendo and often well behind the curve in stupid areas. Another example? No bluetooth on the Switch, even though we're heading into a world of wireless-only communications.

Anyway, I don't see the benefit to using this over something like Discord.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Apple Card Promo to Offer Free AirPods Pro 3

Friday May 15, 2026 8:59 am PDT by
Starting as early as next week, customers who sign up for an Apple Card at Apple's retail stores in the U.S. will receive $249 cash back when they purchase AirPods Pro 3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The promotion has yet to be officially announced by Apple, so exact terms and conditions are not available at this time. AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249 in the U.S., so customers who...
Apple WWDC25 iOS 26 CarPlay Light mode 250609

Six Popular iPhone Apps Now Available on CarPlay

Thursday May 14, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's CarPlay system for accessing iPhone apps on a vehicle's dashboard screen has received six popular apps in recent weeks: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Google Meet, WhatsApp, and the indie artist streaming platform Audiomack. Make sure you have the latest version of each app and they will automatically appear on CarPlay. ChatGPT Starting with iOS 26.4, CarPlay supports voice-based...
ipad mini 7 blue

OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Thursday May 14, 2026 5:08 am PDT by
According to the latest rumors, Apple is close to launching its next-generation iPad mini. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to information found in code...