Nintendo's Switch 2 Reveal Delights Shareholders, Angers Kamiya

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

Nintendo's recent Switch 2 announcement sent shockwaves through the gaming world, impacting both its investors and a prominent game developer. The reveal led to a boost in Nintendo's share price, while simultaneously provoking a furious response from Hideki Kamiya regarding pre-announcement leaks.

A Happy Investor Base

Following the official announcement, Nintendo saw a significant rise in its stock price, according to a January 16, 2025, VGC interview with Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, a Japanese market-focused game industry consultancy. While 2024 saw an average share price around $13 USD, gradually climbing with the proliferation of Switch 2 leaks, the price peaked at $15.77 USD post-reveal. Toto attributes this increase to investor relief, fearing a repeat of the Wii U's underperformance. The Switch 2's iterative design, similar to an iPhone update, seemingly alleviated these concerns. While the design and name might not please all fans, its familiarity ensures easy identification as Nintendo's new console, avoiding a Wii U-like market failure. Toto notes, however, that the pre-announcement leaks significantly diminished the impact of the official reveal.

The announcement itself offered limited details, promising a more comprehensive reveal during a Nintendo Direct on April 2nd, which will likely detail specifications, launch titles, and pricing.

Kamiya's Outrage Over Leaks

Hideki Kamiya, renowned director of titles such as Resident Evil, Okami, and Bayonetta, publicly voiced his anger towards those responsible for leaking Switch 2 information. His Twitter (X) post included a colorful curse directed at the leakers, highlighting the contrast between the joy of his own surprise Okami reveal at The Game Awards and the frustration caused by the Switch 2 leaks. He criticized the leakers' actions as self-serving, negatively impacting potential opportunities for Nintendo following the official announcement.

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. The impact of such leaks on player excitement and the potential misalignment of expectations with reality were also highlighted.

The Enigmatic "C" Button

One point of contention among leakers is the mysterious "C" button on the right Joy-Con. Two prominent theories circulate: a communication function (codenamed "Campus") enabling voice chat, screen sharing, and other online features for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers; and mouse-like functionality, potentially transforming the Joy-Con into a mouse for improved control in games like first-person shooters. The latter theory gains credence from the Switch 2 announcement trailer, showing the Joy-Cons sliding across a surface. However, official confirmation awaits the April 2nd Nintendo Direct.

The April 2nd Direct promises to finally unveil the complete picture of Nintendo's latest hybrid console, resolving many uncertainties and hopefully appeasing both investors and frustrated developers alike.