As part of an effort to allow for more voice based commands in games, Nintendo has partnered with Hitachi to launch a new version of the “Ruby Spotter” voice command recognition software for developers. Previously available in cars, industrial equipment, and navigational devices, Ruby Spotter will make use of the Switch 2’s built-in microphone to enable players to interact with their games in a new fashion.
Boasting support for over 40 languages, the software promises high accuracy and the ability to distinguish voices from loud background noises. This is similar to software Nintendo already incorporated into the Nintendo Switch 2, which filters the microphone from background noises. According to Hitachi, incorporating this software will have a minimal impact on the Switch 2’s CPU, meaning games shouldn’t suffer from performance issues if developers decide to integrate voice commands.
In a slide presentation, Hitachi made mock-ups of ways this software could aid players in their everyday lives. For gaming purposes, Hitachi states voice commands could be a good way to issue commands, select menus, and even control characters. This is giving me flashbacks to when Microsoft forced Kinect support into a ton of Xbox 360 games, though voice recognition has improved dramatically in the last 13 years. It’s not like Nintendo hasn’t dabbled with voice controls before, either, as the DS and Wii U had built-in microphones.
In the short term, this specific piece of news likely won’t mean anything for Switch 2 games. Down the line, I do believe it’s possible that Nintendo might leverage this tech to bring DS games to Switch Online. That would be a novel way of fully utilizing the Switch 2 mic.
Check out more Switch 2 content
Dataminers may have uncover info regarding Monster Hunter Wilds on Switch 2
PEGI listing might indicate Splatoon 3 is headed to Switch 2 soon
Leave a Comment
Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
