Hori's latest Nintendo Switch 2 camera fits on top of your TV

Despite Nintendo's ominous warning that third-party cameras may "not work as intended", game accessory company Hori has announced not one, but two portable alternative cameras for the Nintendo Switch 2. Besides the Super-Mario themed Piranha Plant camera revealed earlier this month, there is now a smaller alternative that is light enough for handheld gameplay.

Hori's new camera is 2 inches (5 cm) long and weighs just 30 grams, a fraction of the 249g Piranha Plant. It attaches directly to the USB-C port on the Switch 2 and can be used solo or with the detachable pedestal which gives it stability on a tabletop. But Hori's camera pedestal is more than just the weighted base. Underneath is a foldable wedge that lets the camera fit over the top edge of a TV, like a clip-on webcam. 

The camera is currently only listed on the Amazon Japan store, with no mention of it on Hori's US website yet. At ¥3,981 ($28), it is less than half the price of the $60 Piranha Plant, and considerably cheaper than Nintendo's own $50 camera. All three gadgets are scheduled for release on the same launch date as the Switch 2: June 5th, 2025.

While Hori beats Nintendo in portability and price, it makes an obvious trade-off in video quality. Nintendo's proprietary camera comes with a 1080p resolution. Both of Hori's third-party cameras capture what they see at 640×480; a significant reduction from what Nintendo offers. Still, they are GameChat-compatible cameras with official Nintendo licenses, so if you are looking for a budget option or a more 'fun' camera, your safest bet is one of Hori's new gizmos.