For players who have already purchased the Nintendo Switch 2, since the console itself doesn't have a built-in camera, using GameChat for in-game video calls usually requires purchasing an official or third-party external lens. However, if you happen to have a Google Pixel phone, you can save on this extra expense.
With Google releasing the November Pixel Drop system update, Pixel phones can now be connected via USB.Used directly as an external camera for Nintendo Switch 2And it does not require any third-party app assistance.
Fixed UVC mode compatibility, plug and play.
In fact, Google had already added support for USB Video Class (UVC) webcam functionality to Android devices in the Android 14 quarterly update two years ago, allowing phones to be used as webcams for computers or other devices via USB connection. However, this feature previously had a bug when connected to the Nintendo Switch 2, causing the console to fail to correctly recognize the phone's signal.
However, Google has apparently fixed this bug in the November Pixel Drop update, meaning users can now use their Pixel phones directly as an external webcam for the Nintendo Switch 2 and make high-definition video calls while using the phone's camera, without having to buy a separate accessory for that single function.
Google's firmware update log in November explicitly stated: "Fixed an issue where webcam mode would not work properly with connected devices under certain circumstances," which clearly indicates that the fix was made to address this compatibility issue.
