Nintendo Switch 2\'s Rumored C Button May Have a Weird Function [UPDATED]

Updated January 14: This article's original Discord server link has been corrected to reflect the accurate source of the datamining information. The original article follows.

Key Findings

• The Nintendo Switch 2's rumored "C" button may facilitate chat functions.
• Datamining of the latest Switch OS reveals a feature codenamed "Campus," suggesting integrated group and voice chat capabilities.
• The official Switch 2 reveal is anticipated for January 16th.

Recent reports suggest the Nintendo Switch 2's unconfirmed "C" button could be dedicated to chat functionality. This revelation could significantly clarify a key hardware mystery surrounding Nintendo's next-generation console.

Since late 2024, numerous leaks have surfaced regarding the Switch 2, largely attributed to the console entering mass production. Consistent across these leaks is an additional button, a dark gray "C," located on the right Joy-Con below the home button. However, the button's function remained unknown until now.

Datamining of the latest Switch OS update, reported from a Discord server focused on Switch 2 information, uncovered a feature codenamed "Campus." This feature appears to be a group and voice chat system for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.

Nintendo Switch 2: Screen Sharing Capabilities

The same source indicates "Campus" will include screen sharing, supporting up to 12 users in chat groups. While the codename begins with "C," the button's function is more likely "chat" than a direct reference to "Campus." This discovery refutes the prevalent theory that the "C" button would be used for screen casting.

Chat Functionality and the Switch's Family-Friendly Image

Group and voice chat necessitate internet connectivity, likely restricting access to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. This presents a significant consideration, given the Switch's deliberate design to minimize such features. The absence of direct chat enhanced the Switch's kid-friendly appeal. Reintroducing features like Miiverse text chat could introduce complexities Nintendo may wish to avoid.

The existence and purpose of the "C" button should be clarified soon. Multiple sources point to an official Switch 2 announcement on Thursday, January 16th.