Ex-Nintendo PR Managers Furious Over Switch 2 Leaks

Two former Nintendo of America employees, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, recently shared their insights on the disruptive impact of the ongoing Switch 2 leaks. With their extensive experience at Nintendo, they highlighted the significant internal disruption these leaks have caused, affecting the company's ability to surprise its fans.

The leaks surrounding the Switch 2 have been extensive, ranging from alleged reveal dates and game lineups to mockups and hardware images. These have flooded the internet, giving fans a premature glimpse of what to expect from the next-gen console. However, Nintendo has clarified that such mockups and images are "unofficial."

In a detailed discussion on their YouTube channel, Ellis and Yang, both former PR managers at Nintendo, expressed their belief that the leaks have caused significant distress within the company. Yang emphasized the high level of frustration, stating, "I am 100% sure that they are really mad, to the most severe level." She humorously mentioned the intense emails marked with multiple exclamation points, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

The duo further elaborated on how these leaks disrupt the daily operations at Nintendo. As the company gears up for the Switch 2's alleged reveal, staff are being pulled into investigations, creating a "highly chaotic situation" and a "real pressure cooker" environment, according to Yang. Despite the chaos, Ellis expressed confidence in Nintendo's investigative team, asserting, "They will eventually get to the bottom of it."

Genki Nintendo Switch Mockup Images from CES 2025

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Yang pointed out that these leaks might dampen the excitement around the official announcement, with Ellis adding, "It’s impacting the way we are all going to view this official announcement." They both dismissed speculations that Nintendo might be orchestrating these leaks, with Ellis firmly stating, "Nintendo did not do this on purpose." He recalled the company's emphasis on the "value of surprise" in internal lectures, emphasizing that nothing is more important to Nintendo than surprising its fans.

The leaks pose a significant challenge to Nintendo as it prepares to announce and launch a new console, a task already fraught with complexity. As a result, Ellis suggested that Nintendo might need to reassess its product security measures. Given that it has been eight years since the original Switch's launch in March 2017, the company's processes for hardware reveals may require an update.

While the leaks have stirred up excitement and speculation, Nintendo has yet to officially reveal any details about the Switch 2. The company has confirmed that the console will be backward-compatible with original Switch games and will feature Nintendo Switch Online. A formal announcement is expected in the first quarter of this year, but the console is not anticipated to launch before April 2025.