Nintendo's Switch 2 Unveils: Buoying Investors, Chiding Creators

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

Nintendo's stock soared following the Switch 2 announcement, while renowned game director Hideki Kamiya unleashed a torrent of criticism against those responsible for pre-release leaks. This article delves into Nintendo's financial gains and Kamiya's fiery response.

A Positive Market Reaction to the Switch 2

As reported by Kantan Games CEO Serkan Toto in a January 16, 2025 VGC interview, Nintendo's share price experienced a significant boost after the Switch 2 reveal. The company's average share price in 2024 hovered around $13 USD, gradually climbing as leaks surfaced online. However, the announcement propelled the stock to a peak of $15.77 USD, exceeding any point in the previous year.

Toto attributed this surge to investor relief, dispelling fears of a repeat of the Wii U's underperformance. He noted that investors favored an iterative, iPhone-like approach – a strategy Nintendo seemingly adopted with the Switch 2. While some fans expressed reservations about the console's name and design, its clear lineage as a Nintendo product is seen as mitigating the risk of another Wii U-style failure.

Despite the positive market response, Toto acknowledged that the pre-release leaks dampened the impact of the official announcement, diminishing the element of surprise. He compared the reveal's impact unfavorably to the original Switch's launch in 2016. The announcement offered limited details, promising a more comprehensive reveal during a Nintendo Direct on April 2nd.

Kamiya's Outrage Over Leaks

Following the official reveal, Hideki Kamiya, the acclaimed director behind titles such as Resident Evil, Okami, and Bayonetta, publicly lambasted the Switch 2 leakers on Twitter (X). He issued a colorful curse, expressing his frustration with the leaks and contrasting it with the positive experience of the surprise Okami announcement at The Game Awards.

Kamiya criticized the leakers for their self-serving actions, arguing that their leaks undermined Nintendo's potential gains from the announcement. He highlighted the leakers' privileged access to information and their decision to compromise its confidentiality.

Former Nintendo of America employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang corroborated Kamiya's sentiments in a YouTube video, stating that Nintendo was deeply upset by the leaks.

The detrimental impact of leaks on the gaming industry is undeniable, diminishing player anticipation and potentially creating unrealistic expectations. Nintendo has yet to quantify the damage caused by the Switch 2 leaks.

The Enigmatic "C" Button

One point of contention among leakers is the mysterious "C" button on the right Joy-Con. Two prominent theories have emerged: communication functionality and mouse control.

The first suggests the "C" button (codenamed "Campus") provides access to voice and group chat features for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, along with screen-sharing capabilities.

The second theory posits that the button enables mouse-like controls, transforming the right Joy-Con into a mouse, potentially enhancing gameplay in titles like first-person shooters. The way the Joy-Cons are depicted in the announcement trailer has fueled speculation supporting this theory.

Ultimately, the true nature of the "C" button remains a mystery until the April 2nd Nintendo Direct.