Don't worry people - the 3DS had missing features at launch, too that eventually came through updates. Lots pf them. :(

This is why you don't leave it up to the game developers, Why should they waste their time making a feature like voice chat.

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/22/sonic-and-all-stars-racing-transformed-wont-have-voice-support/

Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed limited editions
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed will not support Wii U's voice chat functionality, developer Sumo Digital told Eurogamer. The game will support voice chat on other platforms.

Voice chat is not a standard feature for the Wii U. Late last week it was revealed that voice chat is only supported through third-party, officially licensed headsets plugged into the headphone jack of the WiiPad. Yes, the WiiPad has a built-in microphone, but don't hurt yourself trying to figure why that won't work. Also, things get really complicated when you realize the Pro Controller doesn't have a headphone jack.

We reached out to Nintendo for a comprehensive list of titles that support voice chat from the Wii U launch line-up. It'd know, right?

"Wii U will have in-game chat functionality for select games, including, but not limited to, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Assassin's Creed 3 and Mass Effect 3," the company responded to our query. "This feature will be supported by licensed stereo headsets that plug directly into the headphone port of the Game Pad. Licensed headsets are available from Turtle Beach and TRITTON."

Apparently the company is playing it close to the chest. The Wii U launches in under a month.

I'm starting to understand what all you guys mean. I couldn't care less about cross-game chat, but in-game chat is an important feature in this day and age.

Here's the problem with all of this.
1) Miiverse could very well be Ninty's answer to cross game chat, the WiiU can probably multitask remember.
2) If the WiiU Gamepad's speaker was used to game chat, it would be horrible. The speaker on the controller is for things like tango so the speaker is made to listen from a distance so anyone in the same room speaking would also be heard in the game chat. Take a look at the video with the non-specific action figure video and you will see the guy took the Gamepad and set it infront of the tv to video chat. Obviously the mic on the Gamepad can hear form a distance so its not really made for voice chat in games because of too much background noise. So a headset is the solution to this.