‘I Am 100% Sure They Are Really Mad, to the Most Severe Level’ — Ex-Nintendo PR Managers React to Switch 2 Leaks

Two former Nintendo of America employees have shed light on the impact of the ongoing Switch 2 leaks, suggesting they've significantly disrupted internal operations and compromised Nintendo's ability to surprise fans. Recent leaks have revealed purported release dates, game titles, and even mockups of the device itself, including images of the motherboard and Joy-Cons, fueling speculation among eager gamers. Nintendo has officially dismissed these leaked images and mockups as "unofficial."

In a YouTube video, former Nintendo PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, drawing on their combined decade-plus experience at Nintendo and their firsthand knowledge of handling previous leaks, discussed the internal fallout. Yang stated unequivocally, "I am 100% sure that they are really mad, to the most severe level," describing the internal reaction with a humorous yet pointed reference to the infamous "hot exclamation mark emails."

The pair highlighted the disruptive effect leaks have on staff, suggesting that the ongoing investigations, particularly so close to the anticipated reveal, are severely impacting the team's ability to focus on the console's launch. Yang described the internal atmosphere as a "high-stress situation," a "highly chaotic situation… a real pressure cooker," due to the added burden of leak investigations alongside their regular workload. Ellis, however, expressed confidence in Nintendo's investigative capabilities, stating, "They do have very good people who investigate these things. They will eventually get to the bottom of it."

Genki Nintendo Switch Mockup Images from CES 2025

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The leaks, Yang and Ellis agree, have undeniably affected Nintendo's ability to create a sense of surprise around the announcement. Ellis added, "It’s impacting the way we are all going to view this official announcement."

Addressing speculation that Nintendo might be behind the leaks, both Ellis and Yang firmly dismissed the idea. Ellis emphasized the company's strong emphasis on surprise, recalling mandatory lectures on the "value of surprise," stating, "Nothing we do is more important than surprising… There is absolutely nobody trying to do this on purpose." He further highlighted the significant disruption caused by the leaks to the launch preparations.

As a consequence of these extensive leaks, Ellis predicted a reevaluation of Nintendo's product security protocols. Given the eight-year gap since the original Switch launch in March 2017, the company's hardware reveal processes may require significant adjustments.

It's crucial to remember that all information regarding the Switch 2 remains unofficial until Nintendo's formal announcement. While an official announcement is expected in the first quarter of this year, Nintendo has confirmed only that the upcoming console will be backward-compatible with original Switch games and will feature Nintendo Switch Online. Furthermore, the console is not expected to launch during Nintendo's current financial year, meaning a release date no earlier than April 2025.