Nintendo Switch Pro Rumors Get Boost After Kamiya Comments

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

Nintendo's stock price soared following the Switch 2 reveal, while Hideki Kamiya unleashed a torrent of criticism towards those responsible for pre-release leaks. This article delves into Nintendo's financial gains and Kamiya's strong 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 jump after the Switch 2 announcement. Despite prior leaks, the anticipation surrounding the new console boosted Nintendo's market value. The average share price in 2024 hovered around $13 USD, gradually rising as leaks circulated online. However, the price peaked at $15.77 USD, surpassing any point in the previous year.

Toto attributes this increase to investor relief, stemming from fears of a repeat of the Wii U's underperformance. Investors, he explained, favored an iterative, iPhone-like approach – a strategy Nintendo seemingly adopted with the Switch 2. While some fans express reservations about the console's name and design, its readily identifiable nature as a Nintendo product is seen as crucial in avoiding a Wii U-like failure.

While the announcement benefited Nintendo financially, Toto acknowledges that the leaks diminished the impact of the official reveal. He notes the trailer 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 specifications, launch titles, and pricing.

Kamiya's Outrage Over Leaks

Following the Switch 2 announcement, renowned game director Hideki Kamiya voiced his fury towards those who leaked information. On Twitter (X), he issued a strongly worded condemnation, wishing a curse upon the leakers.

His frustration stems from the positive experience of revealing Okami at The Game Awards without prior leaks. He believes the leaks serve only the leakers' "own pleasure and self-satisfaction," harming Nintendo's potential post-announcement gains. He places the blame squarely on those who possessed the information and chose to release it prematurely.

Former Nintendo of America employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang corroborated Kamiya's sentiments in a YouTube video, stating Nintendo was deeply upset by the leaks.

The Enigmatic "C" Button

One point of contention among those who leaked Switch 2 information is the mysterious "C" button on the right Joy-Con. Two main theories circulate: communication features and mouse functionality.

The first suggests the button, codenamed "Campus," provides access to voice and group chat for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, along with screen-sharing capabilities.

The second theory proposes mouse-like control, potentially transforming the right Joy-Con into a mouse for enhanced gameplay in titles like first-person shooters. The way the Joy-Cons are depicted in the announcement has fueled this speculation.

Ultimately, the true nature of the "C" button, along with other Switch 2 details, remains unknown until the April 2 Nintendo Direct.