Two former Nintendo of America staff members, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, have shed light on the turmoil caused by recent Switch 2 leaks. With over a decade of experience at Nintendo, the ex-PR managers shared insights on how these leaks disrupt the company's operations and dampen the excitement of surprise for fans. The leaks, which include alleged reveal dates, upcoming games, and mockup images of the device, have been labeled as "unofficial" by Nintendo.

In a video on their YouTube channel, Yang expressed the severe frustration within Nintendo, humorously referring to "hot exclamation mark emails" that signify the company's heightened state of alarm. "They are very, very, very upset by this," she emphasized. The leaks not only create chaos internally but also pull staff away from focusing on the console's launch, creating what Yang called a "high stress situation" and a "real pressure cooker."

Ellis noted that Nintendo has a competent team dedicated to investigating leaks, confident that they will eventually identify the source. Both former employees refuted speculation that Nintendo might be orchestrating these leaks, with Ellis stating, "Nintendo did not do this on purpose." He highlighted Nintendo's emphasis on the "value of surprise" and how integral it is to the company's culture.

The leaks' impact on the upcoming official announcement could alter fans' expectations and reactions. Due to the leaks, Nintendo might reassess its security measures for product launches, especially since it has been eight years since the release of the original Switch in March 2017.

Genki Nintendo Switch Mockup Images from CES 2025

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While the leaks have sparked excitement and speculation about rumored Switch 2 features, such as 4K upscaling, a larger screen, and new Joy-Con functionalities, Nintendo has not officially confirmed any specifics about the system. The company has, however, stated that an official announcement is expected in the first quarter of this year. Nintendo has also confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with original Switch games and will support Nintendo Switch Online. The console is not slated to launch until April 2025 at the earliest, extending beyond Nintendo's current financial year.