The recent leaks surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 have stirred significant turmoil within Nintendo of America, as discussed by two former staff members, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang. These leaks, encompassing alleged reveal dates, anticipated game titles, and even mockups of the device, have disrupted the company's internal operations and potentially diminished the element of surprise for fans. Images of the Switch 2's motherboard and Joy-Con have surfaced online, fueling further speculation. Nintendo has labeled these mockups and images as "unofficial."
In a YouTube video, Ellis and Yang, who have over a decade of experience at Nintendo and have managed numerous leaks, shared insights on the internal impact. Yang expressed the severity of the situation, saying, "I am 100% sure that they are really mad, to the most severe level." She highlighted the intense pressure and chaos within the company, describing it as a "high stress situation" and a "real pressure cooker." The leaks have forced staff to juggle investigations alongside their regular duties, negatively impacting their focus on the console's launch.
Ellis acknowledged the effectiveness of Nintendo's investigative team, stating, "They do have very good people who investigate these things. They will eventually get to the bottom of it." Both former employees dismissed the notion that Nintendo might be orchestrating the leaks, with Ellis firmly stating, "Nintendo did not do this on purpose." He emphasized the company's emphasis on the "value of surprise," a principle ingrained in staff through repeated lectures.
Genki Nintendo Switch Mockup Images from CES 2025
3 Images
The leaks have not only affected internal operations but also the public's anticipation for the official announcement, as Yang noted, "It’s impacting the way we are all going to view this official announcement." Ellis added that the leaks have a "very disruptive impact" on Nintendo's efforts to announce and launch the new console, a task already challenging enough.
In response to these leaks, Ellis suggested that Nintendo might need to reassess its product security measures. He pointed out that it's been eight years since Nintendo last launched a significant piece of hardware, with the original Switch released in March 2017, indicating that their processes for hardware reveals might need updating.
Despite the leaks, Nintendo has confirmed a few details about the Switch 2: it will be backward-compatible with original Switch games and will feature Nintendo Switch Online. The console is not expected to launch during Nintendo's current financial year, so a release is anticipated no earlier than April 2025. An official announcement is expected in the first quarter of this year, though all current information remains subject to change or debunking.
