We've seen quite a few leaks, renders and mockups of the so-called "Nintendo Switch 2" recently which could indicate that the official announcement is imminent. After a period of silence, Nintendo has finally addressed these leaks. Speaking to CNET Japan, the company said something along the lines of the following (based on Google Translate): "the gaming hardware that Genki claims to be Nintendo hardware at CES is informal and not what Nintendo provided to the company."

Nintendo has also issued a similar statement to the Japanese publication Sankei. A Nintendo representative said the following to Sankei: “These images and videos are not official.”

On the other end of the leaks, Genki has provided some clarifications after stirring up the gaming community. Speaking to online outlet Game*Spark, they noted that their "Switch 2" models and accessories are based on leaks and that they have not actually seen the actual device.

This goes against what was initially implied by Genki and sows some doubt over the veracity of the leaks. We might only know the actual hardware when Nintendo decides to unveil the console, which hopefully will be in the coming months.

SOURCE 1, SOURCE 2, SOURCE 3

 

[tommasi]

This is Switch XL for sure

 

[SylverReZ]

I'm just shocked they still want people to be able to hack their systems by giving us an SD card slot again. It's like they never learn.

Nintendo has had a history of failing to protect their hardware from being jailbroken. They should be held responsible instead of suing pirates and crying like a bunch of babies.

 

[NostalgicMillennial]

"Not official"

This just confirmed these are legit but because Nintendo didn't make the announcement it's "not official"

 

[Silterpy]

Unofficial leaks? I thought those were official leaks from Nintendo itself.

 

[such]

This is the single most amusing console launch ever, and we're not even at the announcement stage.

 

[AlphaBravo]

Can't wait for Switch 2 to get hacked. Nintendo is one of those annoying companies that loves the smell of its own farts.

 

[BraveDragonWolf]

Mario...where you at!?

Nintendo's basement is leaking again!

 

[Hippocampus_Hamster]

All I care about is one thing: will they actually fix the controller (still refuse to call it a "joycon")? I'm lucky and only had to deal with one controller having drift so far, and was able to replace the stick myself, but I know its a big enough issue that Nintendo must address it in their next release or they'll risk burning any goodwill they may have built up this past gen-and-a-half. Its the main thing that people hated about the Switch; not the only thing, but the biggest complaint by far.

Everything else is just updates at this point. We know they're gonna release a new portable/desktop console, because it worked out spectacularly for them once already, and we know its gonna have motion controls squeezed in but hopefully not pushed front-and-center like the Wii was (its old at this point).

I do hope the part about the controllers being magnetic is true, because that would make them so much easier to swap back and forth. If they could sync just by attaching them to a system, even better! No more fiddling with pushing tiny buttons on the back and menu shenanigans and failed syncs.

 

[such]

You know, it'd be pretty funny if an actual game from the release line-up leaked before Nintendo actually announce the Switch 2, and it's looking increasingly more possible.

 

[ChronosNotashi]

I'm just shocked they still want people to be able to hack their systems by giving us an SD card slot again. It's like they never learn.

I mean...do you want the non-standard memory format that Sony used for PSP and/or Vita? Which did absolutely NOTHING to stop hacking/pirating, because those consoles got hacked/pirated anyway? And also made people upset because Sony was the only one not moving to SD cards for storage on portable devices when more or less everyone else did?

Use whatever memory format or media format you want. People that are dedicated enough will find a way through. It's never a matter of "if", but "when" (with the "when" typically being dependent on the console's security). All you'll do is anger people who have to spend extra money on a required storage medium instead of the more tried-and-true SD card format.


Your comment also implies a lack of knowledge as to why early Switch systems were easily hacked in the first place: it was because of a flaw in the NVIDIA chips that allowed for softmodding to be possible. Nintendo has long since fixed that exploit, though (and will likely make sure that the Switch 2 doesn't have such exploits day 1), so unless you have one of the Switch consoles produced before the fix, an SD card alone will do eff all to hack the system. You gotta learn how to hardmod the console without bricking it.

 

[KanaKonpaku]

What a way to disprove the leaks. "We didn't make those images!" I find it funny, I see no debunking of the name either. If it's seriously going to be called "Switch 2" I will laugh. Can't wait to see more leaks and see them try to disprove them.

 

[coderNoob]

I might be the only one with tons of games already, a huge backlog and no enough time to play, that is not in a rush for a new hardware and more money to spent.

 

[regnad]

I remember there was a time where you truly didn't know what Nintendo had lined up, and each console was unique. Now we're just getting the Switch 2, my original Switch hasn't been powered on in years.

I use my Switch all the time!

If I had to pay for the games, I’d probably get them on Steam since they run better and look better on my PC and Steam Deck. But my hacked Switch is a excellent way to try out games to see if they’re worth buying.

 

[DJ-Yoshiman]

Nintendo previously refuted claims by using simple, clear cut language of "this/these are not x."

This is too wordy and hoping around the point to be considered Nintendo denying.

 

[Myoon_Island]

Breaking News! The possibly fan made leaks are "not official" according to Nintendo! Wow!

 

[The Real Jdbye]

So they're not denying that the leaks are real. Sounds like confirmation to me.

All I care about is one thing: will they actually fix the controller (still refuse to call it a "joycon")? I'm lucky and only had to deal with one controller having drift so far, and was able to replace the stick myself, but I know its a big enough issue that Nintendo must address it in their next release or they'll risk burning any goodwill they may have built up this past gen-and-a-half. Its the main thing that people hated about the Switch; not the only thing, but the biggest complaint by far.

Everything else is just updates at this point. We know they're gonna release a new portable/desktop console, because it worked out spectacularly for them once already, and we know its gonna have motion controls squeezed in but hopefully not pushed front-and-center like the Wii was (its old at this point).

I do hope the part about the controllers being magnetic is true, because that would make them so much easier to swap back and forth. If they could sync just by attaching them to a system, even better! No more fiddling with pushing tiny buttons on the back and menu shenanigans and failed syncs.

They have a patent for a fix, allegedly, but that's all I know.
At this point they could just go with hall effect sticks tbh and they would be guaranteed never to have stick drift again. Granted there aren't many manufacturers of hall effect sticks and they may not be able to mass produce them on that scale so Nintendo might have to partner up with a bigger manufacturer to have them custom made.

I'm just shocked they still want people to be able to hack their systems by giving us an SD card slot again. It's like they never learn.

Expandable storage on a game console is not optional. Smartphone manufacturers can get away with it because most of what people do on a smartphone is not hardcore gaming and most of the content is streamed. But a game console has to be good for the next 5-6 years and many people only buy games digitally. It would definitely not fly to remove features people actually depend on.

Not like it would make any difference anyway. A SD card isn't required to run RCM payloads on the Switch, and all needed data could easily be embedded in the payload instead of being loaded from SD and settings could be stored in an unused part of NAND. Not having expandable storage would be an inconvenience, but it wouldn't stop anyone.

 

[ftjiso]

nintendo is being kinda annoying. just announce the trailer for the switch 2 instead of trying to shadow drop it and stop addressing these leaks

 

[Nincompoopdo]

Switch 2 can do DLSS 3.5. All they need is to run games at 720p 30fps and it will upscaled to 4K 60fps.
With a target at 720p 30fps, they can easily run all the games on the market. Xbox and PS5 using AMD chip have to brute force their way to reach 60fps 4K.

 

[Hippocampus_Hamster]

They have a patent for a fix, allegedly, but that's all I know.
At this point they could just go with hall effect sticks tbh and they would be guaranteed never to have stick drift again. Granted there aren't many manufacturers of hall effect sticks and they may not be able to mass produce them on that scale so Nintendo might have to partner up with a bigger manufacturer to have them custom made.

As long as they keep it far enough away from other magnets. Which might put a hitch in using magnets for attaching the controllers with magnets.

 

[orangy57]

Perfect corpo-speak answer TBH. He never said the pictures aren't the real console, just that they aren't official as in not official pictures released by Nintendo (duh). "The hardware is informal" because it's a plastic mold.

They just want to give more time for the official announcement without saying anything concrete. It's super impressive how well execs can carefully misdirect without outright lying