Summary
- Hori is reportedly working on a handheld camera for Nintendo Switch 2.
- The camera is compatible in both docked and handheld modes.
- The handheld camera will be available for sale alongside the Switch 2, with a listed resolution of 480p at 30 fps.
One of the biggest features of the Nintendo Switch 2 is Game Chat, which gives you a Discord-like overlay where you can chat with your friends while you play games. Nintendo has already announced a camera that connects to the console while it’s docked, but what about the handheld experience? Hori, well known for its controllers and accessories across consoles, is reportedly working on a camera for handheld mode that will stick out from the top of the Nintendo Switch 2 while you’re using it in handheld mode.
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3 reasons I won’t be purchasing the Nintendo Switch 2 camera
The Nintendo Switch 2 looks like a great system but there is one major thing I don’t like about it and that is the camera. I won’t be buying it.
A handheld camera for the Nintendo Switch 2 makes perfect sense
Even if it’ll stare up your nose while you play
Hori has already revealed a camera for the Nintendo Switch 2 designed after a Piranha Plant, and it’s listed online for $59. This new camera uses what appears to be the same design, but it doesn’t come with any Nintendo flair. Nintendo Everything spotted the camera, which is listed for sale on Amazon Japan for about $30 (3981 yen). It looks like the camera connects to your Nintendo Switch 2 while it’s docked via a separate dock, but you can detach the camera and connect it directly to your console during handheld play.
The Amazon listing reveals that the camera is locked to 480p at 30 fps, which is quite a drop-off compared to Nintendo’s official Switch 2 camera and its 1080p resolution. You can connect the official Switch 2 camera in handheld mode, as well, though the camera itself will remain on its stand, and you’ll need to stay tethered to the cable while you play.
According to the Amazon listing, the camera will launch alongside the Switch 2 on June 5, but there’s no word on if Hori plans to bring the accessory to the US yet. There’s a decent chance it will considering the Piranha Plant camera uses the same design and is listed at US retailers, but given the volatility of tariffs and global trade, it’s possible the camera will stay exclusive to Japan.
The Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t far off, and we’ll see a flood of accessories when the console goes on sale officially in June. Nintendo has officially opened pre-orders for the Switch 2 globally, including in the US where they were originally delayed. The console has sold out, but there should be a few restocks of pre-orders prior to launch. If you weren’t lucky enough to score a console in the first batch, make sure to keep our page of the best places to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 bookmarked.
