‘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 shed light on the impact of the ongoing Switch 2 leaks, suggesting significant internal disruption and a compromised element of surprise for fans. Recent leaks have revealed purported release dates, game titles, device mockups, and even images of the motherboard and Joy-Cons, fueling speculation. Nintendo has officially labeled these leaks as "unofficial."

In a YouTube video, former Nintendo PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, leveraging their combined decade-plus of experience at Nintendo and dealing with past leaks, discussed the likely internal fallout. Yang stated emphatically, "I am 100% sure that they are really mad, to the most severe level," describing the internal reaction as characterized by "hot hot hot" emails filled with exclamation points.

The pair highlighted the disruptive effect leaks have on staff, suggesting that ongoing investigations surrounding the Switch 2 leaks are creating a high-stress environment and hindering focus on the console's launch. Yang described the internal situation as "a highly chaotic situation… a real pressure cooker." Ellis added, "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, significantly impact Nintendo's ability to surprise its audience. Ellis noted, "It’s impacting the way we are all going to view this official announcement."

Addressing speculation about internal leaks, both Ellis and Yang firmly dismissed the idea. Ellis emphasized the importance of surprise within Nintendo's culture, recalling mandatory lectures on the subject and stating definitively, "There is absolutely nobody trying to do this on purpose. This really does have a very disruptive impact on what the company is trying to do now, which is announce and launch a new console, which is hard enough as it is."

Ellis predicted a reevaluation of Nintendo's product security protocols in the wake of these leaks, citing the eight-year gap since the original Switch launch in March 2017 as a contributing factor to potential vulnerabilities in their current processes.

While all information remains unofficial until a formal announcement, Nintendo has confirmed backward compatibility with original Switch games and integration with Nintendo Switch Online. The console is not expected to launch within their current financial year, indicating a release date no earlier than April 2025. An official announcement is expected in the first quarter of this year.