Nintendo's Switch 2 Reveal Delights Shareholders, Angers Kamiya

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

The recent unveiling of Nintendo's Switch 2 has sent ripples through the gaming world, causing a significant stock price increase while simultaneously provoking a fiery response from renowned game director Hideki Kamiya. Let's delve into the details.

A Happy Investor Base

As reported by Kantan Games CEO Serkan Toto in a January 16, 2025 VGC interview, Nintendo's share price experienced a notable surge following the Switch 2 announcement. This positive market reaction, despite prior leaks, reflects investor relief. Toto highlighted that the fear of a repeat of the Wii U's underperformance—a concern stemming from Nintendo's past experimentation—has been alleviated. The Switch 2's iterative design, akin to Apple's iPhone approach, appears to have reassured investors. While the name and design might not thrill all fans, the clear identification as Nintendo's new console is a significant improvement over the Wii U's ambiguous branding.

Although the announcement boosted Nintendo's market value, Toto acknowledged that the preceding leaks significantly diminished the surprise element, contrasting the impact with the original Switch's 2016 reveal. While the announcement offered limited details, a Nintendo Direct on April 2 promises further information on specifications, launch titles, and pricing.

Kamiya's Outrage at Leaks

Hideki Kamiya, the celebrated director behind titles like Resident Evil, Okami, and Bayonetta, unleashed a torrent of criticism on social media against those responsible for the Switch 2 leaks. His Twitter (X) post expressed his intense frustration, wishing a comical yet pointed curse upon the leakers. He contrasted this with the joy he experienced during the surprise reveal of Okami at The Game Awards, emphasizing the negative impact leaks have on the excitement surrounding a new product launch. He further condemned the leakers' actions as self-serving, potentially harming Nintendo's post-announcement opportunities.

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 detrimental effect of leaks on the gaming industry is undeniable, spoiling surprises and potentially creating unrealistic expectations. Nintendo has yet to publicly address the full extent of the damage caused by the Switch 2 leaks.

The Enigmatic "C" Button

One element fueling speculation is the mysterious "C" button on the right Joy-Con. Two prominent theories circulate: communication features and mouse functionality.

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

The second theory proposes mouse-like control, transforming the right Joy-Con into a mouse, enhancing gameplay, especially in first-person shooters. The Switch 2's announcement visuals, showing the Joy-Cons sliding on a surface, have fueled this speculation.

Ultimately, the truth remains elusive until the April 2 Nintendo Direct, which promises to shed light on the Switch 2's full capabilities.