Former Nintendo of America employees shed light on the impact of recent Switch 2 leaks, highlighting the significant internal disruption and compromised element of surprise for fans. Leaks have revealed purported release dates, game titles, device mockups, and even motherboard and Joy-Con images, prompting widespread speculation. Nintendo has officially labeled these as "unofficial."
In a YouTube video, ex-Nintendo PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, leveraging their combined decade-plus of experience, discussed the internal fallout. Yang described the company's reaction as "extremely upset," emphasizing the high-stress environment created by leak investigations. This added pressure, she explained, significantly impacts staff focus on the console's launch. Ellis confirmed Nintendo's dedicated investigative team is actively working to identify the source of the leaks.
Genki Nintendo Switch Mockup Images from CES 2025
3 Images
The leaks have undeniably diminished the element of surprise surrounding the official announcement, impacting fan anticipation, according to both Ellis and Yang. They emphatically dismissed speculation of internal leaks, emphasizing Nintendo's strong emphasis on the "value of surprise" and the rigorous internal processes designed to prevent such occurrences.
Ellis anticipates a reevaluation of Nintendo's product security protocols, given the scale of the leaks and the eight-year gap since the original Switch launch. This extended timeframe, they suggest, may have exposed vulnerabilities in their hardware reveal processes.
While all information remains unofficial until Nintendo's formal announcement (expected in Q1 2024), Nintendo has confirmed backward compatibility with original Switch games and integration with Nintendo Switch Online. A launch during the current fiscal year is unlikely, indicating an April 2025 release at the earliest.
