An update for Nintendo Switch this week adds video capture capabilities and save data transfer, but Nintendo quietly included another feature to the system in version 4.0.0. Players have noticed that updated systems will now detect wireless headsets — as long as they’re connected over USB.
We tested out the Switch’s new wireless headphone compatibility after Redditors found that theirs worked with the Switch. We plugged a Steelseries Siberia 800 wireless headset into our docked system, and voila:
That’s all it takes; plug the USB connector of your wireless headset into one of the ports on the dock and that should be it. Those with USB-C adapters have shared evidence that they’re able to use their headsets with success too, after plugging the adapter into an undocked Switch’s USB-C connector.
Other options shown to work with the Switch include the PlayStation series of wireless, USB-connected headsets. But much like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Switch doesn’t support bluetooth audio at this point. We wouldn’t expect it too, either; lag is often a serious issue when connecting over bluetooth.
Could this suggest a better solution for Nintendo’s ... complicated voice chat setup? Here’s hoping. Nintendo did confirm that Splatoon 2 supports native voice chat over LAN connections as-is, although all wireless multiplayer modes require players to use a separate smartphone app in order to communicate. Still, if the Switch does have built-in voice chat available in some capacity, wireless headsets would certainly be a great way to make use of that — especially over a wireless connection.