Nintendo’s share price increased after the Switch 2 announcement, while Hideki Kamiya issued scathing remarks about leakers. Read on to learn more about Nintendo’s financial success and Kamiya’s comments on Switch 2 leakers.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 Announcement Making Waves
Nintendo’s Shareholders are Happy with Switch 2 Reveal
Following the Switch 2 announcement, Nintendo’s share price increased, as reported during a VGC interview with Kantan Games’ CEO Serkan Toto on January 16, 2025. Kantan Games is an independent game industry consultancy that focuses mainly on the Japanese market.
It seems that the hype for Switch 2, despite the recent leaks, helped Nintendo to further increase its market value. Considering the share price in 2024, the company averaged around $13 USD, gradually increasing as Switch 2 leaks started to infest the internet by the latter half of the year. However, Nintendo’s share price reached the highest point of $15.77 USD compared to any point last year.
According to Toto, this significant increase is attributed to shareholders being happy with the Switch 2 announcement. "Investors were afraid of another Wii U situation where Nintendo tries to experiment or over-innovate but misses what users actually demand," Toto shared.
"So there is certainly some relief in the financial community about Switch 2. For this cycle transition, investors were hoping for a more iPhone-like, iterative approach – and Nintendo certainly delivered from that perspective." Though some fans are not too happy about Switch 2’s name and design, it would help people easily identify that it is Nintendo’s new console, potentially avoiding the disastrous fate of Wii U.
Though Switch 2’s announcement is favorable to Nintendo’s market value, Toto asserted that the leaks lessened the impact of the reveal. "As it turned out, the leaks over the last days really killed the surprise, at least for me," he said. "But even without the leaks, I would say the punch this trailer has does not even come close to the one introducing the original Switch back in 2016."
The announcement revealed minimal details about Nintendo’s latest handheld device, but the company is set to hold a direct on April 2, potentially revealing its specs, launch titles, and pricing information.
You can also check out regularly updated Switch 2 article to know more about this upcoming hybrid console!
Hideki Kamiya Furious About Switch 2 Leakers
Following the Switch 2 announcement, a prominent video game director and designer issued scathing remarks on social media towards its leakers. Hideki Kamiya, director of Resident Evil, Okami, Bayonetta, and more known for his snarky social media comments, expressed his frustrations about Switch 2 leakers on Twitter (X).
"To those who leaked information about Switch 2 / those who were complicit in the leaks, I hope you'll all be cursed to always come home to find poop stuck to the soles of your shoes for the rest of your lives," Kamiya posted.
His frustration comes from the enjoyment he felt when revealing Okami during last year’s The Game Awards, which fortunately did not leak before the event. "Especially since we were able to enjoy the surprise announcement from Ōkami together with all the users, I truly feel this way... May all the damn leakers be cursed, one and all."
He also said that the leakers are only leaking information for their "own pleasure and self-satisfaction," which negatively affects opportunities that Nintendo may have acquired after the Switch 2 announcement. Kamiya also shifted the blame towards the leakers as they were one of the few who knew about Switch 2 and still decided to leak sensitive information about the handheld device.
Former employees of Nintendo of America, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, also mentioned that the company was not happy about it on a YouTube video 2 days before the announcement. "Nintendo’s been disrupted daily, for months, with these leaks, and I’m 100 percent sure they are really mad, to the most severe level," shared Yang. "We joke around but… they are very, very, very, upset by this."
Video game and console leaks negatively impact the gaming industry, as they spoil player excitement and might even set up expectations that might not coincide with its actual features or specifications. That being said, Nintendo has yet to address how damaging Switch 2 leaks are to its engagement and future sales.
Rumors Swirl About Switch 2’s “C” Button
If there is one thing Switch 2 leakers can’t agree about, it is the mysterious "C" button, located at the right Joy-Con below the Home Button. Two leading rumors are dominating the discussion regarding this button: communication-related functionality and mouse controls.
The first rumor claims that the “C” button is code-named "Campus," which gives group and voice chat features accessible to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Allegedly, this button also allows screen sharing, giving players the opportunity to share their gaming experience with others.
Meanwhile, the second rumor emphasizes a mouse-like control functionality, basically transforming the right Joy-Con into a mouse, making certain games like first-person shooters much more accessible to players. Supporters of this rumor believe that the Switch 2 announcement implicitly confirms the functionality, where the Joy-Cons appear to slide across a flat surface.
However, Nintendo has yet to reveal the specs and features of Switch 2. Fans have to wait until April 2 to get more detailed information about Nintendo’s latest hybrid console.
Sources:
VGC Interview with Serkan Toto
VGC: Rumors About Switch 2’s “C” Button
Game Rant: “C” Button Communication Features’ Rumors
Kit & Krysta’s Video Discussing Nintendo’s Reaction to Switch 2’s Leaks
