You Can Now Use Pixel Phones As A Switch 2 Webcam

That Pixel telephone successful your pouch is now a Switch 2 webcam. | Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge

When it launched nan Switch 2’s compatibility pinch various webcams was deed aliases miss. A webcam isn’t a basal accessory, but since nan Switch 2 lacks 1 of its own, you request 1 to take afloat advantage of nan console’s GameChat feature that tin livestream players’ faces during multiplayer matches. Switch 2 webcam compatibility has since improved, but if you don’t already ain one, you tin now usage your Pixel smartphone, according to Android Authority.

Despite Nintendo’s claims that nan Switch 2 useful pinch astir USB webcams, our ain testing confirmed that Pixel smartphones could not beryllium utilized arsenic webcams astatine launch, moreover pinch nan device’s settings switched to nan USB webcam mode that Google introduced pinch Android 14. Switch 2 users yet recovered that Android phones and iPhones could beryllium utilized arsenic a webcam for nan console, but pinch nan thief of additional USB-C to HDMI adapters, and HDMI seizure cables.

But other hardware is nary longer needed to usage a Pixel smartphone arsenic a Switch 2 webcam. We tested a Pixel 9 Pro connected straight to nan Switch 2’s apical USB-C larboard pinch a azygous cablegram and, aft switching nan USB preferences to “Webcam” mode, we were capable to usage nan smartphone arsenic nan camera for GameChat. If you’re playing multiplayer games for illustration Mario Kart World, GameChat lets you not only speak pinch different competitors astir nan world, but besides spot them superimposed complete a livestream of them playing if you’re utilizing a webcam.

It’s not known if caller updates connected Google’s aliases Nintendo’s extremity are responsible for making this activity (the Pixel 9 Pro we tested it pinch is moving nan Android 16 December release), but it’s a invited upgrade for those who often recreation pinch their Switch 2 and don’t want to lug a abstracted webcam everyplace they go.