Nintendo's Switch 2 Reveal Delights Shareholders, Angers Kamiya

Nintendo's Switch 2 Reveal: A Stock Surge and a Director's Ire

Nintendo's stock soared following the Switch 2 announcement, even as prominent game director Hideki Kamiya unleashed a torrent of criticism towards those responsible for pre-release leaks. This article explores the financial impact of the reveal and Kamiya's outspoken reaction.

A Positive Market Reaction to the Switch 2

According to a January 16, 2025, VGC interview with Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games (a Japanese market-focused game industry consultancy), Nintendo's share price experienced a significant increase after the Switch 2 unveiling. While 2024 saw an average share price around $13 USD, gradually climbing with the proliferation of leaks, the announcement pushed it to a peak of $15.77 USD – the highest point of the year.

Toto attributes this surge to investor relief. Concerns about a repeat of the Wii U's underperformance, fueled by fears of overly experimental designs, were allayed by the Switch 2's seemingly iterative approach. The familiar design, Toto suggests, mitigates the risk of a similar market failure. Despite some fan dissatisfaction with the name and aesthetics, the clear lineage to the original Switch is seen as a positive.

However, Toto acknowledges that the pre-release leaks significantly diminished the impact of the official announcement, stating that the reveal lacked the surprise and excitement of the original Switch launch in 2016. While the announcement offered limited details, a Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2 promises a more comprehensive reveal of specifications, launch titles, and pricing. Stay tuned for further updates on our regularly updated Switch 2 article.

Kamiya's Outrage at Switch 2 Leaks

Hideki Kamiya, renowned director of titles such as Resident Evil, Okami, and Bayonetta, voiced his fury on Twitter (X) towards those responsible for the Switch 2 leaks. His message was a colorful condemnation, wishing ill fortune upon leakers and those who aided them.

This anger stems from the stark contrast between the successful surprise reveal of Okami at The Game Awards and the compromised excitement surrounding the Switch 2. Kamiya believes the leaks serve only the leakers' self-gratification, harming Nintendo's potential post-announcement gains. He directly blames the leakers for their actions, highlighting their knowledge of the confidentiality surrounding the project.

Former Nintendo of America employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang corroborated Kamiya's sentiments in a YouTube video, confirming Nintendo's extreme displeasure with the leaks and their disruptive impact.

The Enigmatic "C" Button

The leaks themselves are not without their internal inconsistencies. One point of contention centers around a mysterious "C" button on the right Joy-Con. Two competing theories circulate: a communication-focused function (code-named "Campus") enabling voice chat, screen sharing, and other online features for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers; and a mouse-like control scheme, potentially transforming the Joy-Con into a mouse for improved functionality in games like first-person shooters. The latter theory gains some credence from the apparent depiction of the Joy-Cons sliding on a flat surface in the announcement trailer. However, definitive answers remain elusive until the April 2 Direct.