You can now use Pixel phones as a Switch 2 webcam

Despite Nintendo’s claims that the Switch 2 works with most USB webcams, our own testing confirmed that Pixel smartphones couldn’t be used as webcams at launch, even with the device’s settings switched to the USB webcam mode that Google introduced with Android 14. Switch 2 users eventually found that Android phones and iPhones could be used as the console’s webcam, but with the help of Additional USB-C to HDMI adaptersand HDMI capture cables.

But additional hardware is no longer needed to use a Pixel smartphone as a Switch 2 webcam. We tested the Pixel 9 Pro connected directly to the Switch 2’s top USB-C port using a single cable, and after switching the USB preferences to Webcam mode, we were able to use the smartphone as a GameChat camera. If you play multiplayer games like Mario Kart WorldGameChat not only lets you talk to other competitors around the world, but it also lets you see them overlaid via a live stream of them playing if you’re using a webcam.

It’s not known whether recent updates on Google or Nintendo are responsible for making this work (the Pixel 9 Pro we tested ran on the December 16 version of Android) but it’s a welcome upgrade for those who travel frequently with a Switch 2 and don’t want to carry a separate webcam everywhere they go.