How leaks (almost) killed the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal

After 8 long years, the Nintendo Switch 2 has been announced, albeit to a smattering of applause.

The lacklustre response isn't because people are disappointed.

It's just that there was no surprise involved, thanks to a landslide of leaks ahead of Nintendo's actual announcement.

Back in May 2024, Nintendo indicated it would announce a sequel to its Switch console before April 2025.

The company isn't afraid to start projects over from scratch and didn't drop a single hint about its new device all last year.

So, with their promised deadline approaching fast, fans became desperate - and leakers began working overtime.

So wait, is this actually a new gaming console?

Yep! Believe it or not, Nintendo's never actually made a numbered sequel to a console until now. (Just like how the PlayStation 5 is the 5th version of the same console).

The company loves making new devices with new gimmicks. But this time around, they've kept the Switch 2 pretty much the same as the original Switch from 2017.

We won't get into all the specs here. But the main updates are its bigger screen, a new way to attach/remove the "Joy-Cons" (those mini controllers that attach to the side of the screen), and an apparent new function where Joy-Cons can be used like computer mice.

They're neat little upgrades. But, to Nintendo's dismay, ALL of these features (and more) were leaked well before they became official.

Ok, so what actually leaked?

Nothing's confirmed about the Switch 2's insides or release date yet. But some now-confirmed leaks about its exact physical features came out over a week before Nintendo announced them.

One of the bigger leaks came at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this month. Gaming accessory maker Genki brought a 3D-printed mockup of the console to the event after apparently getting details of the Switch 2 early.

Around the same time, both Genki and renowned phone leaker OnLeaks published 3D renders of the console. And now, we know those were accurate, down to the colour choices.

Nintendo responds (kind of)

With fire licking its feet, Nintendo published its first-look trailer of the Switch 2 late last week.

Unlike the original Switch announcement in 2016, this trailer had, as one commenter put it, strong "get off my back" energy.

The console wasn't shown in action. Instead, all we got was a mostly silent animation of the original Switch transforming into the new one.

It's not a bad trailer. But there weren't many surprises since it mostly regurgitated what people already knew (which they weren't supposed to until now).

At the end of the trailer, Nintendo's indicated they'll share more details in a livestream 2 1/2 months from now - far too long to wait, if you ask the average fan.

Dealing with sly leakers and scary fans

Nintendo's whole shtick is that they care about quality over quantity. They'd rather delay their products and make them right the first time, instead of rushing them out the door in time for Christmas.

While fans love the company for this approach, having to wait longer for new releases can take a toll on them.

The Switch 2 has been highly anticipated for years, and diehards have been frothing for any piece of new info since last May. But up until last week, Nintendo gave them next to nothing.

Now, despite trying to be secretive about it all, major leaks have made the console's reveal feel more assuring than exciting.

If some apparent leaks about upcoming games, retail prices and release dates also hold water, they might all come with their own taste of disappointment too.

The lesson here for Nintendo - and any company prone to leaks - is the importance of efficient communication with both partners and audiences.

Genki says Nintendo never had them sign an NDA, meaning their leaks may have been perfectly legal. If true, then there should have been better planning and clearer communication on the secrecy of the project.

As for fans, Nintendo shouldn't have left people out in the cold for 8 straight months.

They should have shared SOMETHING about the Switch 2, even if it was what day and time to catch the first-look trailer (a date that, funnily enough, was also leaked).

So, what have we learned?

If your audience isn't getting info from you when it's clearly warranted, they'll try digging for it by their own means. And, more often than not, you'll end up looking bad because of it.

Don't give people everything they want, but also, read the room!

Because if you're not careful, that years-in-the-making project you've been working on could quickly lose steam.

Or, worse, it could fail to launch before even getting off the ground!

-Devin, Copywriter