The Nintendo Switch[1] got its first big multiplayer game this week in Splatoon 2[2]. And while the paintball and squid-inspired shooter has launched to rave reviews, there’s one glaring problem with it - the Nintendo Switch Online app.
While not a part of Splatoon 2 per se, the Nintendo Switch Online app shows us how the company thinks multiplayer gaming should work. You install it on your smartphone and use it to set up matches with friends, as well as talk to them, which is crucial for online play. In fact, it’s the only way to voice chat with friends while playing Splatoon 2, or any upcoming Nintendo Switch game that has online multiplayer.
In theory it sounds like an interesting prospect. Offboarding social functions to an app could allow you to set up and schedule matches on the fly, as well as coordinate tactics with friends when you’re away from your Switch - all through a single app that’s tied to the console you’ll be playing on.
Splatoon 2 Nintendo Switch Review[3]
The reality though, is far from convenient. That's because, in order to work, the Nintendo Switch Online app has to remain open, and your phone’s screen has to remain on at all times, in order for voice chat to work. If you swap apps to respond to a text message, send out a tweet, or decide to post a picture to Instagram, voice chat drops. If your screen powers off, voice chat drops.
It gets worse if you want to play Splatoon 2 on the Switch on the go. You’ll need your console, your smartphone, and a pair of headphones with a mic. You’ll probably also need a power bank...