PREORDER NOW: As of April 24, preorder the Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera for $59.99 at Target.
Planning on hanging out with your friends in Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat? If you want to get the most out of it, you might want to secure a camera to use with it. This new feature lets up to 12 people join group chats while gaming with video features that you can use while playing and even streaming to your buddies.
It's facilitated by the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, which you'll have to buy separately if you want to use it. But if you want something a little more fun, there's another option: the officially licensed Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera.
As of April 24, you can preorder the Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera for $59.99 at Target. It's also available at Best Buy right now, but it's out of stock at Walmart. It's $5 more than you'd spend on the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, so keep that in mind when budgeting for your Switch 2 setup.
This camera connects to your Switch 2 via USB and is compatible with TV mode, portable mode, and tabletop mode. It lets you video chat with friends or use the other camera-based features in the Switch 2 games coming to the system. Like the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, just plug it in and place it wherever you get the best angle. It's a bit larger than the Switch 2 Camera, but hey, it's also a Piranha Plant.
If you plan on using it with Switch 2's GameChat feature, you'll need to make sure you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. That's available as two different tiers: individuals can pay $19.99 per year for basic service, while the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack costs $49.99 a year. For family memberships, the basic tier costs $34.99, while the NSO + Expansion Pack option is $79.99.
There's more to the Switch 2's GameChat feature than just talking in-game and across games, though. Several games offer unique functionality with the camera, including Mario Kart World and Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV. And those are just to start, likely with several more games on the way with camera-based features.
If you're interested in getting the most out of GameChat (and your Switch 2), this is a fun addition to your Switch 2 (if you managed to get one). You don't have to splurge with the extra $5, but hey, it's a Piranha Plant.
