More Switch 2 leaks have arrived for Christmas (Nintendo)
A leaker has released alleged pictures of the Nintendo Switch 2 console for Christmas, as rumours pile up around a January reveal.
Nintendo Switch 2 leaks have snowballed considerably throughout December, between videos of the seemingly magnetic Joy-Cons and images of the console from accessory manufacturers.
One of the most unusual leaks was from Reddit user NextHandheld, who claimed to have a final unit of the console. After they answered various questions about the system (albeit in vague terms) on the site, the user promised to provide further proof on Christmas Day.
While some suspected it was a hoax, NextHandheld has lived up to their festive promise, although the jury is still out around its legitimacy.
To mark Christmas Day, the user released what appears to be a side-on image of the console on X. ‘This holiday season, I couldn’t resist sharing this gift with you all,’ they wrote. ‘Some might call it an early reveal… but I call it the best-kept secret of the year.’
It’s difficult to tell whether it is legitimate because of the purposefully obtuse angle, but it does appear to show the connecting socket for the new magnetic Joy-Cons, along with the U-shaped kickstand. There’s also a Nintendo logo on the slider, which feels like a bizarre place to put a logo if it’s going to be covered up by the Joy-Con controllers.
After many suspected the photo was generated by AI, NextHandheld released another image on Boxing Day which appeared to show a rear view of the Switch 2 dock. ‘It’s all just AI generated,’ he wrote, in what seems to be a sarcastic jab at the comments.
The picture of the dock appears to have the back plate removed, although the angle obscures where the HDMI port and power socket will presumably be on the inner side (like the original Switch). While it’s difficult to glean too much from the image itself, the design of it is more circular, unlike the box-shaped edges of the original.
If that wasn’t enough, the user has also shared several other alleged details about the console, namely that it will have a built-in microphone (unlike the original Switch) and will sport two Joy-Con colour variants.
They claimed the Switch 2 Joy-Cons will come in matte black, while another set will be baby blue and orange. The original Switch launched with two colour variants; a grey model and neon red and blue.
While NextHandheld has no track record when it comes to leaks, the amount of information they have released, including these alleged images, suggests they do have some sort of inside knowledge — although it is perhaps best to remain sceptical until we hear something official.
The sheer amount of leaks recently suggests an announcement could be around the corner. Nintendo has confirmed it will reveal the Switch’s successor before April 2025, with some insiders touting January as the most likely reveal month — so it could be imminent.
According to industry analyst Serkan Toto, who previously said Nintendo’s next console will be officially called the ‘Nintendo Switch 2’, the company might even reveal the system earlier than planned due to the amount of leaks making their way online.
‘Nintendo will not have much time in January, so a potential announcement early in the month could make sense,’ Toto told Eurogamer. ‘You can bet that Nintendo is aware of all the leaks and not happy about them, even if some of them will turn out to be made up.
‘It is actually getting so bad with those leaks that they might cause Nintendo to release information earlier than planned.’
Nintendo has not announced anything about its next console, only that it will be backwards compatible. While we know the console will be shown before April, it’s still unclear when it will launch, with some insiders claiming it could be as early as June.
Will anything top the neon red and blue? (Nintendo)
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