A recent patent from Nintendo might finally address one of the most requested improvements for the upcoming Switch 2—voice chat. If the patent, filed back in November 2024 and published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office last month, is any indication, Nintendo is gearing up to enhance the online gaming experience on its next console.
The patent describes a system for what appears to be in-game proximity chat, where the audio a player hears gradually transitions based on their movement. While the jargon-heavy description is a bit difficult to parse, it seems to be focused on smoothing out the transition between different sounds captured by virtual microphones as a player moves through a game world. Essentially, the sound won’t abruptly change when a player moves, making voice chat and game audio more natural and immersive.
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Proximity chat, which has been a standard feature in online gaming for years, could provide a much-needed upgrade to the Nintendo Switch experience. As of now, if you want to chat with friends while playing, you’re forced to use a separate mobile app—something that feels outdated compared to other consoles that have built-in voice chat. Nintendo’s idea, however, seems to be about making the chat experience more seamless and integrated into the game.
Of course, as with any patent, it’s important to temper expectations. Nintendo files numerous patents, many of which are never fully realized in actual products. So while this could be a sign that Switch 2 will finally have a solid voice chat system, it’s far from a guarantee. Still, the prospect of in-game proximity chat has us excited—imagine chatting with friends while racing through Mario Kart 9 without needing to juggle a phone call at the same time!