By Sagar V. Mankar 
Nintendo‘s legal representatives reportedly approached Genki, a gaming accessories manufacturer, regarding their display of a Nintendo Switch 2 mock-up at CES 2025, held in Las Vegas. This information comes from French tech journalist Julien Tellouck, who shared these details in a YouTube short on January 11 and was later corroborated by additional reporting from The Sankei Shimbun and VGC.
The situation began on January 8 when Numerama first reported that Genki had showcased what appeared to be a prototype of Nintendo’s highly anticipated next console at CES. Initially, there was confusion about the origin of the design, with some speculation that it might have been based on the actual Nintendo Switch 2. However, Genki quickly found itself in an uncomfortable spotlight when Nintendo’s legal team made an unexpected appearance at their CES booth.
According to Tellouck, when confronted by Nintendo’s lawyers, Genki’s representatives maintained their position by pointing out that they had never signed any non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Nintendo. This technical detail became their primary defense against potential legal complications. In a subsequent statement to CNET Japan, Genki clarified that Nintendo had not provided them with any device specifications, and their mock-up was actually based on various leaked information circulating in the gaming community.
The controversy has drawn significant attention, especially given the mounting speculation about Nintendo’s next gaming hardware. Throughout 2024, numerous rumors and leaked images have emerged, supposedly revealing details about Nintendo’s upcoming console. Despite growing anticipation from fans, Nintendo has maintained its characteristic silence about the new hardware.
However, the company did finally break its silence, albeit briefly, when speaking to The Sankei Shimbun. A Nintendo spokesperson simply stated that the images and videos from CES were “not official,” marking their first public acknowledgment of the recent leaks.
Industry insiders, including VGC reporter Andy Robinson, suggest that Nintendo might be planning a staged reveal approach similar to how they introduced the original Switch in 2016. This would likely involve an initial preview followed by a more comprehensive presentation at a later date.
The situation has also sparked discussions about potential third-party support for the new console. Reports indicate that Microsoft might become a major supporter of the platform bringing Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on the platform. Additionally, Square Enix is rumored to be preparing multiple Final Fantasy titles for the system.