Nintendo's Switch 2 Reveal Delights Shareholders, Angers Kamiya

Nintendo's Switch 2 Unveiling: A Mixed Bag of Investor Delight and Developer Ire

Nintendo's stock soared following the Switch 2 reveal, while prominent game director Hideki Kamiya unleashed a torrent of criticism towards those responsible for pre-release leaks. This article delves into the financial implications of the announcement and Kamiya's fiery response.

A Positive Market Reaction to the Switch 2

As reported by Kantan Games CEO Serkan Toto in a January 16, 2025 VGC interview, Nintendo's share price surged after the Switch 2 announcement. This positive market response, despite prior leaks, significantly boosted the company's market valuation. Toto notes that the increase reflects investor relief, stemming from fears of a repeat of the Wii U's underperformance. The Switch 2's iterative design, mirroring an "iPhone-like" approach, appears to have assuaged these concerns. While the share price had steadily risen throughout 2024 amidst leaks, the official announcement pushed it to a record high of $15.77 USD, exceeding any point in the previous year. Toto acknowledges, however, that the leaks significantly diminished the impact of the official reveal, contrasting it with the original Switch's launch in 2016.

The announcement provided limited details, leaving many specifications, launch titles, and pricing undisclosed. A Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2 promises further clarification.

Kamiya's Outrage at Switch 2 Leaks

Hideki Kamiya, renowned for his outspoken nature, expressed his fury towards those responsible for the Switch 2 leaks on Twitter (X). His comments were particularly sharp, expressing a wish for the leakers to perpetually endure a humiliating inconvenience. This outburst stems from the contrast between the successful surprise reveal of Okami at The Game Awards and the compromised anticipation surrounding the Switch 2. He criticizes the leakers' actions as self-serving, undermining Nintendo's potential gains from a more controlled reveal.

Former Nintendo of America employees, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, corroborated Kamiya's sentiments in a pre-announcement YouTube video, highlighting Nintendo's significant displeasure with the leaks. They emphasized the considerable disruption caused by the constant flow of leaked information.

The broader implications of such leaks are detrimental to the gaming industry, spoiling surprises and potentially creating unrealistic expectations. Nintendo's official response to the damage caused by these leaks remains pending.

The Enigmatic "C" Button

The Switch 2 leaks have generated considerable speculation, particularly surrounding a mysterious "C" button on the right Joy-Con. Two prominent theories prevail: a communication-focused function and mouse control capabilities.

The first theory suggests the button, codenamed "Campus," facilitates group and voice chat features for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, along with screen-sharing functionality.

The second proposes that the "C" button enables mouse-like controls, enhancing the gaming experience, especially for first-person shooters. The Joy-Con's apparent gliding motion in the announcement trailer has fueled this theory.

The true nature of the "C" button, along with other unanswered questions about the Switch 2, will be addressed in the upcoming April 2 Nintendo Direct.