Nintendo Switch 2 Leaks Spark Internal Chaos, Former Staff Reveal

REDMOND, Wash. — Nintendo of America is grappling with internal turmoil as a wave of leaks surrounding the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 has disrupted operations, according to former employees. The leaks, which include images of the console’s motherboard and Joy-Con controllers, have sparked widespread speculation and forced the company into damage control mode.

Former Nintendo PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, who spent over a decade at the company, shared insights into the likely impact of the leaks during a recent discussion. “I am 100% sure that they are really mad, to the most severe level,” Yang said. “We joke around about the hot exclamation mark emails. They are hot hot hot. How many exclamation marks could be at the end of this? They are very, very, very upset by this.”

The leaks have not only angered Nintendo executives but also created a high-stress environment for employees. Yang described the situation as a “pressure cooker,” with staff being pulled into investigations while trying to focus on the console’s launch. “It’s a highly chaotic situation in there right now,” she added.

Ellis emphasized the company’s commitment to maintaining secrecy, recalling lectures on the “value of surprise” that staff would attend. “Nothing we do is more important than surprising,” he said. “There is absolutely nobody trying to do this on purpose.”

The leaks have also raised concerns about Nintendo’s ability to surprise its fans. “It’s impacting the way we are all going to view this official announcement,” Ellis said. Yang echoed this sentiment, noting that the leaks could diminish the impact of the official reveal.

Despite the chaos, Ellis expressed confidence in Nintendo’s ability to investigate the leaks. “They do have very good people who investigate these things,” he said. “They will eventually get to the bottom of it.”

The leaks come as Nintendo prepares to announce the Switch 2, which is rumored to launch as early as April 2025. The company has yet to confirm any details, but the leaks have already given fans a glimpse of what to expect. Images of the console’s motherboard and Joy-Con controllers have circulated online, fueling speculation about the system’s design and capabilities.

Ellis and Yang dismissed rumors that Nintendo might be behind the leaks, calling the idea “highly unlikely.” “Nintendo did not do this on purpose,” Ellis said. “This really does have a very disruptive impact on what the company is trying to do now, which is announce and launch a new console, which is hard enough as it is.”

As Nintendo works to contain the fallout, the company is likely reevaluating its product security measures. The leaks highlight the challenges of launching a major hardware product in the digital age, where information can spread rapidly online. For now, fans will have to wait for an official announcement to learn more about the Switch 2.