That C Button Mystery, Solved — and Monetized
A year ago, Switch 2 owners spent way too long guessing what the mysterious C Button actually did. The answer landed with GameChat, Nintendo’s system-level social hub for voice, optional video via a USB camera, and a live gameplay feed your friends can watch. Now that GameChat has moved behind the paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription as of April 1, 2026, Nintendo is trying a fresh incentive to get you to press C again.
Beginning this week, the company is awarding 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points simply for opening GameChat. There’s a cosmetic kicker too: load it up and you’ll be able to unlock a run of themed user icon elements. It’s a small nudge, but an unmistakable one — Nintendo wants more players inside GameChat.
How to Nab 100 Platinum Points
Nintendo’s promo is time-limited and fairly specific. “A new mission is buzzing in!” the official site reads. “Until April 22 at 5:59pm PT, Nintendo Switch Online members can earn 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points by hopping into GameChat, an exclusive feature for the Nintendo Switch 2 system that lets you group up and hang out with friends and family. You’ll then be able to redeem your points for themed icon elements, which you can use to create a fresh look for your user icon.”
Getting in is simple. “You can start GameChat by tapping the icon on the HOME Menu on your Nintendo Switch 2 system or by pressing the C Button on your Joy-Con 2 controller,” Nintendo explains. If it’s your first time, there’s a one-off setup to complete before the reward triggers. There’s also a deadline on claiming: “To collect your Platinum Points, please visit the Nintendo Switch Online app on your system within 30 days of completing this mission. The mission and icon elements are available until April 22 at 5:59 pm PT.”
That means you’ll need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to even access GameChat, which lines up with Nintendo’s plan unveiled at launch to place the feature behind the subscription starting April 1, 2026. That date has now passed, making GameChat a premium perk rather than a free experiment.