Nintendo's stock soared following the Switch 2 announcement, while Hideki Kamiya unleashed a torrent of frustration on leakers. Let's delve into Nintendo's financial gains and Kamiya's fiery response.
Nintendo's Switch 2 Announcement: A Stock Market Success
Happy Shareholders, Higher Stock Prices
A January 16, 2025, VGC interview with Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games (a Japanese market-focused game industry consultancy), revealed a significant post-announcement surge in Nintendo's share price. The hype surrounding the Switch 2, despite pre-release leaks, boosted the company's market value considerably. While 2024 saw an average share price around $13 USD, gradually rising with the leaks, the price peaked at $15.77 USD—a new high.
Toto attributes this increase to shareholder relief. He explains that investors feared a repeat of the Wii U's underperformance, fearing excessive innovation at the expense of consumer demand. The Switch 2's iterative approach, much like an iPhone upgrade, eased these concerns. While some fans may be less than thrilled with the name or design, the clear lineage to the original Switch avoids the Wii U's branding pitfalls.
Despite the positive market reaction, Toto acknowledges the leaks dampened the reveal's impact, stating the announcement lacked the punch of the original Switch unveiling in 2016. While the reveal offered limited details, a Nintendo Direct on April 2 promises further information on specs, launch titles, and pricing. Stay tuned for our regularly updated Switch 2 articles for the latest news!
Hideki Kamiya's Scathing Critique of Switch 2 Leaks
Following the announcement, renowned game director Hideki Kamiya (Resident Evil, Okami, Bayonetta) unleashed a scathing social media tirade against the Switch 2 leakers. His Twitter (X) post wished a particularly unpleasant curse upon those responsible.
His frustration stemmed from the positive experience of the surprise Okami announcement at The Game Awards, a stark contrast to the Switch 2 leaks. He believes the leaks served only the leakers' self-satisfaction, undermining Nintendo's potential post-announcement gains. He directly blamed the leakers, highlighting their knowledge of the confidential information and the subsequent decision to release it.
Former Nintendo of America employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang corroborated Kamiya's sentiments in a pre-announcement YouTube video, emphasizing Nintendo's extreme displeasure with the leaks.
The negative impact of video game and console leaks is undeniable, spoiling surprises and potentially creating unrealistic expectations. While Nintendo hasn't publicly commented on the damage, the impact on engagement and future sales is undoubtedly a concern.
The Enigmatic "C" Button: Two Competing Theories
One point of contention among leakers is the mysterious "C" button on the right Joy-Con. Two main theories circulate: communication features and mouse functionality.
The first suggests the "Campus" codename hints at communication features for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, including group chat, voice chat, and screen sharing.
The second theory proposes mouse-like control, transforming the right Joy-Con into a mouse for improved gameplay in titles like first-person shooters. The Joy-Con's apparent sliding motion in the announcement is cited as supporting evidence.
Ultimately, the April 2 Nintendo Direct will shed light on the "C" button and other Switch 2 features. Until then, speculation continues.
