07-04-2025
This Adorable Piranha Plant Switch 2 Camera Just Upstaged Nintendo's Own Version
Nintendo's new chat camera is getting some unexpected competition—from a Piranha Plant.
One of the most surprising elements of the Switch 2 has been how heavily Nintendo has emphasized the new chat feature, which includes a brand-new camera accessory. But if that plain black camera isn't quite to your taste, you're in luck — there's an adorable Piranha Plant alternative.
Interestingly, the Piranha Plant camera doesn't actually come from Nintendo itself, but from third-party accessory maker Hori. Spotted on the German site the Piranha Plant camera appears to function just like the standard Switch 2 camera, but looks far snazzier sitting on your TV stand. The camera is currently retailing for €39.99, or roughly $43, which comes in slightly under the $49.99 price tag for Nintendo's official camera.
If the lower price isn't reason enough, there are a couple of extra features that might make the Piranha Plant even more appealing. For one, it has an ingenious built-in shutter to block the camera — simply close the mouth. A beautifully simple solution.
At the same time, the Piranha Plant's pot is actually a USB extension for the camera, as the camera itself pulls out of the pot and has another USB attached to the plant itself. Meaning, you can take your little buddy on the road with you, allowing you to use that Chat feature anywhere and everywhere — just be careful with that amount of power.
The Piranha Plant camera hasn't been officially announced by Hori yet, so we don't quite have a release date, but it's likely to come out at or close to the Switch 2's release. It also makes it clear that accessory-makers are ready to go all-in on Switch 2, and Nintendo is ready to let them.
Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, 2025.
