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

Tags: Nintendo, Nintendo Switch

Top Rated Comments

69Mustang Avatar
69Mustang
112 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
shareef777
112 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
attohs
112 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
macduke
112 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)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in September With These 10 New Features

Monday April 20, 2026 7:13 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Read Full Article • 46 comments
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple CEO Tim Cook Stepping Down, John Ternus Taking Over

Monday April 20, 2026 1:33 pm PDT by
Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple's chief executive officer, and hardware engineering chief John Ternus is set to take over, Apple announced today. Cook will continue on as Apple CEO through the summer, with Ternus set to join Apple's Board of Directors and take over as CEO on September 1, 2026. Cook is going to transition to executive chairman, and he will "assist with certain...
Read Full Article • 555 comments
iphone 17 ceramic shield

Leaker: Apple Downgrading iPhone 18 to Cut Costs

Monday April 20, 2026 9:12 am PDT by
Apple is downgrading the planned specifications of the standard iPhone 18 to cut costs, a leaker claims. In a new post on Weibo, the user known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said that the iPhone 18 features "certain manufacturing downgrades" that bring it more into line with the low-cost iPhone 18e model. The decision is said to be "a cost-cutting measure." Apple has apparently chosen to...
Read Full Article • 116 comments