Switch online requires Phone App? Why is no one talking about this?

[fielding88]

Normchacho said:

RolStoppable said:
I hope you guys realize that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launches in April. That's months before Nintendo's smartphone app will be made available.

Friends lists, lobbies and matchmaking should logically all be possible without the smartphone app. Voice chat is a different story, but the idea that the smartphone app will be a requirement to play online is obviously nonsense.

I haven't seen anybody suggest that...but it looks like it will be required for making parties and talking to your friends.

"Online lobby and voice chat

Our new dedicated smart device app will connect to Nintendo Switch and let you invite friends to play online, set play appointments, and chat with friends during online matches in compatible games─all from your smart device. 

 

A free, limited version of this app will be available for download in summer 2017."

Your quote doesn't say "required." Have you read the descriptions of the Playstation or XBOX apps? They use similar language, and you could assume the same thing