Friendslop Launches on Switch 2: How the New GameChat Feature Changes the Game

Friendslop is coming to the Switch 2. During the Nintendo Indie World presentation, I realized two important things. First, friendslop-style games will soon flood the new console, like a falling piano in a cartoon about a gardener. Second, this is great news for me, as I will be able to play them directly on the Switch 2.

My friends love the term "friendslop" — it started as a derogatory term but has now become a descriptive term for indie cooperative games with a loose gameplay structure that allows for chaos and makes these games popular on social media. These games are known for their low-polygon graphics and stylish appearance, common among indie games. Although the term has not become an official genre definition, it is useful for denoting popular informal cooperative games, primarily on Steam. I used to feel uncomfortable playing such games — I had to get up from the couch, which I didn't like. Cooperative games for consoles, like Phasmophobia, suit me better than PC games like Peak.

The new GameChat functionality on Switch 2 opens up many possibilities for such games. The Content Warning trailer shown during Indie World demonstrates how this feature addresses the issue by making cross-platform releases available for PC earlier. Previously, to play cooperative games like Among Us on Switch, you had to be in the same room or use complicated platforms like Discord or the Nintendo Switch App. Thanks to GameChat, this has become much simpler: with the push of a button, you can connect with friends for online play or communicate in a four-player lobby, even while completing individual tasks.

This feature removes barriers — there's no need to set up chat on Steam Deck or Discord; everything is straightforward and convenient. For example, Content Warning is a game where you explore underwater ruins with friends in search of supernatural phenomena, which helps boost popularity on social media. Collaboration is important here, but not mandatory — sometimes battling each other brings even more enjoyment.

GameChat opens the door for many similar games on Switch 2. And the popular indie game Peak, which sold nearly 5 million copies in a month, is exactly the type of casual cooperative game that is perfect for the new console. Even if the games become more demanding, the hardware upgrades of Switch 2 will handle them. People want to play with friends on the platforms their acquaintances are using, and with GameChat, Switch 2 can finally become that platform.