"The smartphone app that we're creating, that will be part of our online service, we believe is going to be a very compelling part of the overall proposition because that's how you'll voice chat, that's how you'll do your matchmaking, and create your lobby," said Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aim.

Nintendo Switch's Online Matchmaking, Lobbies And Voice Chat Handled By Smartphone App

Nintendo has confirmed some of the details regarding the online services offered by its new home handheld hybrid console and most awaited Nintendo Switch. In the announcement of Fils-Aim, he specifies the functions that can be carried out by the accompanying mobile application. When a question asked by GameSpot how smartphones would tie into Switch, here is the answer of Fils-Aim:

We also think it’s a very elegant solution because if you’ve taken your Switch on the go, you’ve put yourself in a hotspot, you’re looking at get a quick match of Mario Kart in, to whip out some sort of bulky, gamer headset is a bit of a challenge.

Nintendo Switch Needs The Mobile App

According to International Business Times, the mobile app would be capable of bringing out these functions to support the Nintendo Switch's partly handheld nature, but that does not say the app would exclusively handle matchmaking and lobbies.

Also, the accompanying app of the Nintendo Switch would be made available in the summer of this year while the service is still free, but this comes after the release of the game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on April 28. It is said to feature the online play. It's hard to imagine the game launching without the Wii U original's built-in matchmaking.

As per TachRadar, because of the news that mobile app is needed for the Nintendo Switch, it's beginning to feel as though in its quest to make a hybrid console, the Nintendo Switch is fast becoming a device that has limitations in both form-factors.