Nintendo has initiated legal action against accessory manufacturer Genki, alleging trademark infringement after Genki showcased renders of a Nintendo Switch 2 "mockup" several months before Nintendo officially unveiled its new console. This controversy originated at CES 2025 in January when Genki, amidst the Switch 2 mockup furore, reportedly received a visit from Nintendo's lawyers. Despite this, Genki maintained they had not signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Nintendo, asserting they had "nothing to worry about."
Genki claimed their Switch 2 mockup, which debuted three months prior to Nintendo's formal unveiling, was based on an actual Switch 2 system they had encountered. This system supposedly served as the foundation for their accessory designs.
According to court papers reviewed by IGN, Nintendo accuses Genki of launching "a strategic campaign intended to capitalize on the public interest surrounding Nintendo's next-generation console." The lawsuit includes charges of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising. Nintendo argues that Genki's claim of early access to the unreleased console misled the public, as it would be impossible to guarantee compatibility without unauthorized access.
"In January 2025, \[Genki\] began advertising that it gained unauthorized access to Nintendo's upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console, which had not yet been released or even revealed publicly by Nintendo," the court documents state. Genki's statements later became contradictory, with the company denying possession of a console, yet still claiming their accessories would be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2 upon its release.
Genki Nintendo Switch Mockup Images from CES 2025
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Nintendo further alleges that Genki infringed on its trademarks through advertising and competed directly with Nintendo's and its licensees' authorized accessories. Additionally, Nintendo took issue with a tweet from Genki on January 20, where CEO Edward Tsai gestured to silence with the caption: "Genki ninjas infiltrate Nintendo Kyoto HQ," and a website pop-up that read: "Can you keep a secret? We can’t..."
In response, Nintendo seeks to bar Genki from using the "Nintendo Switch" trademark in marketing, demand the destruction of any products or marketing materials referencing Nintendo's branding, and recover unspecified damages, which they wish to be tripled.
Over the weekend, Genki responded on social media, stating, "You may have seen that Nintendo recently filed a lawsuit against us. We’re taking it seriously and working with legal counsel to respond thoughtfully. What we can say is this: Genki has always been an independent company focused on building innovative gaming accessories for the community we love. We’re proud of the work we’ve done, and we stand by the quality and originality of our products. While we can’t comment in detail, we’re continuing preparations to fulfill orders and showcase our newest products at PAX East this week."
Genki expressed gratitude for the "overwhelming support \[they have\] received so far," and concluded, "We’ll share more when we can, but for now, we’re staying focused on doing what we do best: building gear for gamers."
The Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled to debut on June 5. Pre-orders commenced on April 24, with the console priced at $449.99. The pre-order launch was highly successful, though Nintendo has warned U.S. customers who pre-ordered via the My Nintendo Store that release date delivery is not guaranteed due to high demand. For more details, refer to IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide.
