"Nintendo Switch 2 Unveiling Boosts Shares, Irks Kamiya"

Nintendo's announcement of the Switch 2 has sparked a range of reactions, from financial triumph to outspoken criticism. The company's share price soared following the reveal, while Hideki Kamiya, a renowned game director, voiced his anger towards leakers. Dive deeper into the story to uncover the details behind Nintendo's financial uptick and Kamiya's fiery comments on the Switch 2 leaks.

Nintendo’s Switch 2 Announcement Making Waves

Nintendo’s Shareholders are Happy with Switch 2 Reveal

Nintendo's stock value surged after the Switch 2 announcement, as highlighted in a VGC interview with Kantan Games CEO Serkan Toto on January 16, 2025. Kantan Games, an independent consultancy specializing in the Japanese gaming market, provided insights into this financial upturn. The excitement around the Switch 2, even amidst leaks, has significantly boosted Nintendo's market value. In 2024, Nintendo's shares averaged around $13 USD, but as leaks emerged in the latter half of the year, the price climbed. Post-announcement, the share price hit a peak of $15.77 USD, surpassing last year's figures.

Serkan Toto attributed this rise to investor satisfaction with the Switch 2 announcement. "Investors feared another Wii U scenario, where Nintendo might experiment too radically and miss the mark on consumer demand," Toto explained. "The financial community feels relieved about the Switch 2. They wanted a more iterative approach akin to the iPhone, and Nintendo delivered just that." While some fans have mixed feelings about the Switch 2's name and design, the clear branding helps differentiate it from the Wii U, potentially steering clear of past mistakes.

Toto noted that the leaks dampened the impact of the reveal. "The leaks in the days leading up to the announcement really spoiled the surprise for me," he said. "Even without the leaks, the trailer's impact doesn't match the original Switch's reveal in 2016." The announcement teased minimal details about the new handheld, but Nintendo plans to unveil more, including specs, launch titles, and pricing, during a direct on April 2.

Stay tuned to our regularly updated Switch 2 article for the latest on this eagerly awaited hybrid console!

Hideki Kamiya Furious About Switch 2 Leakers

Following the Switch 2 announcement, Hideki Kamiya, the acclaimed director behind games like Resident Evil, Okami, and Bayonetta, took to social media to express his frustration with the leakers. Known for his candid social media presence, Kamiya tweeted, "To those who leaked information about Switch 2 and those complicit in the leaks, I hope you'll all be cursed to always come home to find poop stuck to the soles of your shoes for the rest of your lives."

Kamiya's ire stems from his enjoyment of the surprise reveal of Okami at last year's The Game Awards, which remained unspoiled. "Especially since we were able to enjoy the surprise announcement from Ōkami together with all the users, I truly feel this way... May all the damn leakers be cursed, one and all," he added. He criticized leakers for seeking "their own pleasure and self-satisfaction," which he believes undermines opportunities Nintendo could have capitalized on post-announcement.

Kamiya also pointed fingers at those within the know at Nintendo who chose to leak the information. Just two days before the announcement, former Nintendo of America employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang discussed the company's frustration on a YouTube video. "Nintendo’s been disrupted daily, for months, with these leaks, and I’m 100 percent sure they are really mad, to the most severe level," Yang stated. "We joke around but… they are very, very, very, upset by this."

Leaks in the gaming industry can spoil player excitement and set unrealistic expectations, potentially harming engagement and future sales. Nintendo has yet to comment on the impact of the Switch 2 leaks.

Rumors Swirl About Switch 2’s “C” Button

One of the most debated aspects of the Switch 2 is the mysterious "C" button, located on the right Joy-Con below the Home Button. Two main rumors have emerged regarding its purpose: communication features and mouse-like controls.

The first rumor suggests the "C" button, code-named "Campus," could enhance group and voice chat for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, possibly including screen sharing to enrich the gaming experience.

The second rumor posits that the "C" button might enable the right Joy-Con to function as a mouse, improving gameplay in genres like first-person shooters. Proponents of this theory point to the Switch 2 announcement, where the Joy-Cons were shown sliding across a flat surface, hinting at this functionality.

As Nintendo has not yet disclosed the full specs and features of the Switch 2, fans will have to wait until the April 2 direct for more detailed information on this exciting new hybrid console.