Nintendo's Switch 2 Reveal Delights Shareholders, Angers Kamiya

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

Nintendo's stock soared following the Switch 2 announcement, while renowned game director Hideki Kamiya unleashed his fury on those responsible for pre-release leaks. This article delves into the financial implications and Kamiya's outspoken reaction.

A Positive Market Response 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 price to a peak of $15.77 USD, exceeding any point in the previous year.

Toto attributes this surge to investor relief, fearing a repeat of the Wii U's underperformance. The Switch 2's iterative design, resembling an "iPhone-like" approach, appeased concerns about excessive innovation at the expense of consumer demand. While some fans express dissatisfaction with the name and design, its clear identity as Nintendo's new console is seen as crucial in avoiding a Wii U-like disaster.

Despite the positive market reaction, Toto acknowledges that the pre-release leaks significantly diminished the impact of the official announcement. He notes that the reveal lacked the same punch as the original Switch's 2016 unveiling. The announcement provided limited details, with a Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2 promising further information on specs, launch titles, and pricing. Stay updated on our regularly updated Switch 2 articles for the latest news.

Kamiya's Outrage at Switch 2 Leaks

Following the announcement, Hideki Kamiya, the acclaimed director behind titles like Resident Evil, Okami, and Bayonetta, voiced his intense displeasure with the Switch 2 leaks on Twitter (X). He issued a scathing curse upon the leakers, expressing his frustration with the spoiled surprise. He contrasted this with the successful, leak-free reveal of Okami at The Game Awards.

Kamiya condemned the leakers' actions as self-serving, arguing that their leaks negatively impacted Nintendo's potential post-announcement gains. He placed the blame squarely on those who possessed the information and chose to disseminate it. Former Nintendo of America employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang corroborated this sentiment in a YouTube video, emphasizing Nintendo's extreme displeasure with the leaks.

The detrimental effects of video game and console leaks are undeniable, dampening player excitement and potentially creating unrealistic expectations. Nintendo has yet to publicly quantify the damage caused by the Switch 2 leaks.

The Enigmatic "C" Button

The Switch 2 leaks have generated considerable speculation, particularly surrounding a mysterious "C" button on the right Joy-Con. Two main theories prevail: communication functionality and mouse controls.

The first suggests the "C" button, codenamed "Campus," facilitates communication features for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, including group and voice chat, and screen sharing.

The second proposes mouse-like control functionality, transforming the right Joy-Con into a mouse, enhancing gameplay, especially in first-person shooters. The Joy-Con's apparent sliding motion in the announcement trailer fuels this theory.

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