Nintendo Leaks Incite Fury Among Ex-PR Managers

Former Nintendo of America employees shed light on the impact of recent Switch 2 leaks, highlighting the significant internal disruption and the compromised element of surprise for fans. Leaks have revealed potential release dates, upcoming games, and even device mockups, including images of the motherboard and Joy-Cons. Nintendo has officially dismissed 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 likely internal fallout. Yang emphasized the intense frustration within Nintendo, describing the situation as a "high-stress" and "highly chaotic" environment, adding significant pressure to staff already burdened with leak investigations alongside their regular duties. Ellis confirmed Nintendo's robust internal investigative team is working to identify the source of the leaks.

The leaks have undeniably diminished the intended surprise element of the official announcement, impacting fan anticipation, according to both Ellis and Yang. They firmly refuted speculation of internal leaks, emphasizing Nintendo's commitment to the "value of surprise" and the rigorous training staff receive on maintaining secrecy.

Ellis anticipates a reevaluation of Nintendo's product security protocols following this incident, given the eight-year gap since the original Switch launch. This extended timeframe may have exposed vulnerabilities in their hardware reveal processes.

What rumored Switch 2 feature are you most excited for?

4K upscalingLarger screenOptical sensor on JoyconMysterious "C" buttonFaster SD cardsMagnetic locking Joycon

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, suggesting an April 2025 release at the earliest.