Nintendo's stock soared after the Switch 2 announcement, while Hideki Kamiya unleashed his fury on those responsible for the leaks. Let's dive into Nintendo's financial win and Kamiya's scathing response.

Nintendo's Switch 2 Announcement Makes Waves

Happy Shareholders, Thanks to Switch 2

Following the Switch 2 reveal, Nintendo's share price jumped, as reported by Kantan Games CEO Serkan Toto in a January 16, 2025, VGC interview. Kantan Games, a Japanese market-focused consultancy, noted the positive impact.

Despite pre-announcement leaks, the Switch 2 hype boosted Nintendo's market value. In 2024, the average share price hovered around $13 USD, rising as leaks surfaced later in the year. The announcement, however, saw a peak of $15.77 USD—the highest point of the year.

Toto attributed this surge to shareholder relief. He explained, "Investors feared a repeat of the Wii U—over-innovation missing user demands. The Switch 2 announcement, with its iterative approach, offered reassurance." While some fans aren't thrilled with the name or design, its clear identity as Nintendo's new console avoids the Wii U's pitfalls.

Although the announcement benefited Nintendo financially, Toto acknowledged the leaks diminished the impact. He stated, "The leaks killed the surprise. The trailer lacked the impact of the original Switch announcement in 2016." While the announcement 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 article!

Hideki Kamiya's Anger at Switch 2 Leaks

Following the announcement, renowned game director Hideki Kamiya voiced his outrage on Twitter (X) at the leakers. His tweet: "To those who leaked Switch 2 info/were complicit, may you forever find poop on your shoes!"

This frustration stemmed from the joy he experienced revealing Okami at The Game Awards—an event unspoiled by leaks. He lamented, "The surprise announcement was wonderful. May all leakers be cursed!"

Kamiya criticized the leakers' actions as self-serving, harming Nintendo's post-announcement opportunities. He placed the blame squarely on those who knew about Switch 2 and chose to leak sensitive information.

Former Nintendo of America employees, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, corroborated this sentiment in a pre-announcement YouTube video. Yang stated, "Nintendo's been disrupted daily for months. They are very upset."

Leaks negatively impact the industry, spoiling excitement and creating potentially unrealistic expectations. Nintendo hasn't yet publicly addressed the damage caused by the Switch 2 leaks.

The Mysterious "C" Button

One point of contention among leakers is the enigmatic "C" button on the right Joy-Con. Two main theories exist: communication features and mouse controls.

The first suggests the "Campus" codename indicates communication features for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, including group chat, voice chat, and screen sharing.

The second posits mouse-like control functionality, transforming the right Joy-Con into a mouse, particularly beneficial for FPS games. The Joy-Con's apparent gliding motion in the announcement fuels this theory.

Until the April 2 Direct, the true nature of the "C" button and other Switch 2 features remains a mystery.