As it turns out, the Switch is actually powerful enough for simultaneous voice chat and gameplay. You can enjoy both in a Splatoon 2 LAN party.

Coinciding with the launch of their multiplayer-focused game, Splatoon 2, Nintendo infamously launched their own version of a Discord app on iOS and Android called Nintendo Switch Online. The app allowed you to do a very limited number such as partying up and having a voice chat with some pals. These are all features that are often native on other multiplayer games. Nintendo Switch Online was marketed as the only way to communicate with friends while playing Splatoon 2, claiming the Switch wasn’t powerful enough to run a game and support voice chat. Having the app downloaded was practically a must if you wanted to play Splatoon 2 with friends.

As it turns out, the Switch is actually powerful enough for simultaneous voice chat and gameplay. According to an anecdote on Neogaf, voice chat is actually readily available for anyone playing via a LAN party. This means that the code is there, Nintendo just needs to update Splatoon 2 for voice chat to be usable in multiplayer.

This revelation has some heavy implications for other online games under the Nintendo umbrella. Both Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Arms launched with a severe lack of voice chat as well and have yet to be compatible with Nintendo Switch Online. Does this mean it’s possible for both of those titles to gain the feature? What about upcoming Nintendo titles? Is the voice chat app still going to be a requirement? Hopefully, the simpler route of in-game voice chat is opted for in future Nintendo titles.

If you’re curious about LAN party voice chat on Splatoon 2, you can set up a LAN party at home following Nintendo’s simple steps. Just make sure to have a microphone connected to your system when you do it.

Feel free to also check out our own opinions in full on the Nintendo Switch Online app as well as our neon colored review for Splatoon 2.