Two former Nintendo of America employees, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, have recently shared their insights on the impact of the ongoing Switch 2 leaks. Having spent over a decade at Nintendo, they emphasized the significant disruption these leaks have caused within the company, affecting their ability to surprise fans with new announcements.
The leaks about the Switch 2 have been extensive, including alleged reveal dates, games planned for the next-gen console, and mockups of the device itself. Additionally, images of the Switch 2's motherboard and Joy-Con have surfaced online, fueling further speculation among fans. Nintendo has labeled these images and mockups as "unofficial."
In a video on their YouTube channel, Ellis and Yang discussed the internal turmoil caused by these leaks. Yang stated, "I am 100% sure that they are really mad, to the most severe level," describing the high-stress environment inside Nintendo as they deal with leak investigations alongside regular work. Ellis noted that the situation is "a highly chaotic situation in there right now and a real pressure cooker," and praised the company's investigative team, saying, "They do have very good people who investigate these things. They will eventually get to the bottom of it."
Genki Nintendo Switch Mockup Images from CES 2025
3 Images
The leaks are not just a headache for Nintendo's staff but also diminish the company's ability to surprise its fanbase. Yang mentioned, "It’s impacting the way we are all going to view this official announcement," while Ellis added that the leaks are affecting the excitement around the official reveal.
Both former employees dismissed any speculation that Nintendo might be behind the leaks, with Ellis stating, "Nintendo did not do this on purpose." He referenced the company's emphasis on the "value of surprise" and how staff are regularly reminded of its importance. Yang reinforced that these leaks have a disruptive impact on Nintendo's efforts to announce and launch a new console, which is challenging enough without such complications.
In response to the leaks, Ellis suggested that Nintendo might reevaluate its product security measures. He pointed out that it has been eight years since the original Switch was launched in March 2017, suggesting that Nintendo's processes for hardware reveals might need updating.
Despite the leaks, Nintendo has yet to officially reveal any details about the Switch 2. However, the company has confirmed that the upcoming console will be backward-compatible with original Switch games and will include Nintendo Switch Online. A formal announcement is expected in the first quarter of this year, though the console is not anticipated to launch until April 2025 at the earliest.
