Nintendo Switch 2 webcam compatibility: it’s a wild west

The Nintendo Switch 2 is more expensive in practically every way: pricier console, pricier games, an entire Chat button you’ll eventually have to pay to use. So it was nice when Nintendo revealed you won’t need its own $55 camera to video chat with pals.

“You can use the Nintendo Switch 2 camera accessory (sold separately) or any compatible USB-C® camera you’d like,” the company wrote. But you might be mighty disappointed if you simply buy a PC webcam off the shelf.

Many USB-C webcams we’ve tried don’t work at all, including the ones you’ll typically find on “best webcam” lists around the internet, like the Logitech Brio 4K, the Insta360 Link, and the Elgato Facecam MK.2. Meanwhile, ancient USB-A cameras like my Logitech C920 fire up instantly with no trouble at all.

<img src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/20250606_165946.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,15.095986038394,100,69.808027923211" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="Ol’ reliable’s still got it. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge” data-portal-copyright=”Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge”>

And in our testing, it doesn’t seem to matter if you use the Switch USB-C ports or the USB-A ports on the dock, whether …read more