Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks won’t change anything

If the rumors must be believed, the occurrence of Nintendoof (supposedly) Switch 2 the message is more permeable than an old apartment faucet. Over the past few weeks, information about the console doc, retailer Accessory SKUs, models, Joy-Consand many more, found their way online; the sheer volume of alleged photos and information suggests that an announcement may be just around the corner.

However, Nintendo remains steadfast in its silence. While fans online may be speculating as to why the company hasn’t caved and made an announcement about the Switch 2 itself, the leak may not actually change sales, marketing, or anything else of significant consequence. “None of these leaks will matter once the official reveal is made,” says Circana CEO and video game analyst Matt Piscatella.

In other words, it’s not iPhone 4. Nothing that has surfaced reveals a console that is very different from the previous one. Nintendo’s plans to release the next-generation Switch — commonly referred to as the Switch 2 — have been floating around since early last year. Company president Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that Nintendo will do so announced the console before March 2025, when the company’s fiscal year ends. “It’s a completely different story when material, non-public information is leaked,” Piscatella says. “But the extent of the impact of this can vary greatly depending on the nature of the leak. All of this has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.”

If anything, most of the buzz surrounding the Switch 2 stems from the fan’s rigid fixation rather than the technical specs. Sure, some people are interested in how good the console’s resolution will be, but many are just excited about what new games and new playstyles will come with a fresh new device. People get emotional about the consolesand Nintendo are some of the most loved. What’s been happening over the past few weeks isn’t so much a spill of corporate secrets as it is the same kind of energy and speculation that surrounds a Beyonce album dropping. Once Nintendo reveals the new Switch, this will all just be part of the hype cycle.

Not that it wasn’t a terribly entertaining ad cycle. In addition to images leaked on sites like X and Reddit also have “summoning circles,” engineered to invoke the Switch 2. Some people even joked about the situation, mocking “leaked” images of screws or air which can be used for the new console.

And of course, a leak must be seen by the public to be meaningful. For many Nintendo fans, it’s doubtful they’ll find Switch 2 details on Reddit, as opposed to TV commercials or in stores. Even like gaming sites like Kotaku nerves as to whether the leaks point to a less impressive console, average gamers aren’t that concerned. No one device pleases everyone, and analyzing grainy photos isn’t going to change that.

Not that that has stopped online fans from digging into every bit of information. After Nintendo’s Twitter account banner was updated to a photo of Mario and Luigi gesture to … nothing, a row started among some fans who wanted to know if it was a tease or a red herring. Another official tweet promoting the Lego Game Boy caused a a whirlwind on comments about on Switch 2including some blaming Nintendo in the trolling. “The online conversation was … enthusiastic,” says Piscatella. “Which is generally a good thing, as it shows a high level of interest from a portion of the gaming audience.”

Still, some fans are considering same question: With so much information already out there, why didn’t Nintendo just announce something? Former Nintendo PR manager Krista Yang offered some insight of X. “As wild as these leaks are, Nintendo will stick to its plan,” Yang tweeted. “They have a date on their mind and they don’t budge no matter what.”