Nintendo Switch 2 Console Leaks Appear to Be Authentic

The recent buzz around the Nintendo Switch 2 is gaining traction, especially with some intriguing images that have surfaced online. These snapshots, rumored to showcase the new console and its docking station, appear quite convincing despite the seemingly AI-generated backgrounds. Notably, the images include details like authentic-looking product certifications and an unusual type of screw—one that Nintendo has been known to use.

There’s a growing consensus that these leaks could mean the Switch 2 is already in mass production, even though Nintendo hasn’t officially announced anything.

An in-depth analysis of these images has bolstered the credibility of an enigmatic insider sharing leaks about Nintendo’s upcoming console. This particular source is a Reddit user named NextHandheld, who has been feeding the community with potential details about the Switch 2 since December 2024. The leaks took on a new dimension with several photos that purportedly depict the console and its dock, though some fans expressed skepticism, citing certain oddities that suggested AI involvement.

In a bid to clear the air, another Reddit user, RealDoodleDoop, recently offered a thorough analysis of these images. While they identified potential signs of image manipulation, primarily with mismatched reflections, they concluded that the leakage remained credible. The theory is that NextHandheld used AI to create a generic background to obscure the actual setting, thereby safeguarding the source’s identity.

One weird aspect noticed was that the hand in the image appears to be AI-generated too, as it shows a wristwatch worn over a sleeve—a peculiar choice, to say the least. Nonetheless, RealDoodleDoop noted that the images accurately depict details like the use of tri-wing screws—a type found in many Nintendo devices, from the Wii U to the current Switch.

The leaks further align with recent size estimations of the Switch 2 console. Although one image of the dock is somewhat blurry, it shows the expected regulatory labels found on modern consumer gadgets.

There’s speculation that Nintendo will need to unveil the console by the end of March. Given the cascade of leaks, some of which now include supposedly authentic images, it seems plausible that production is already underway. A launch in the second quarter of 2024 seems possible, though it’s probably the earliest we could expect to see the device in stores.