Nintendo Lawyers Allegedly Confronted Genki Over Switch 2 Mockup at CES 2025

Nintendo reportedly sent legal representatives to the booth of accessories manufacturer Genki at CES 2025 after its Switch 2 mockup gained widespread media attention.

Genki’s mockup of the second generation Nintendo Switch, which drew significant interest at the Las Vegas event, was showcased alongside claims that it was modeled on a real Switch 2 system. 

The company later admitted to Japanese publication Game*Spark that the mockup was based solely on leaked industry information, not direct access to Nintendo hardware. Despite this statement, Genki insisted that it had not violated any agreements with Nintendo, as it had not signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

In a statement to the Japanese arm of CNET, Nintendo declared that “the gaming hardware that Genki presented as Nintendo hardware at CES is unofficial and was not provided to the company by us.” 

French journalist Julien Tellouck, who spoke with Genki representatives at CES, revealed that Nintendo’s lawyers had already confronted the company. According to Tellouck, Genki claimed they had “nothing to worry about” due to the absence of any formal agreements with Nintendo. Genki’s admission that their Switch 2 mockup relied entirely on leaked details has added fuel to ongoing speculation about the console. 

Over the past year, unverified leaks have depicted a larger console with upgraded hardware, including magnetic Joy-Con controllers, USB-C ports, and advanced AI-powered upscaling for 4K textures. Alleged specifications include 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

The mockup showcased by Genki also aligned with reports of electromagnetic suction controllers replacing the traditional rail locks used in current Joy-Cons.

Speculation surrounding the new Switch is intensifying, fueled by alleged retail listings for Switch 2-compatible MicroSD Express cards in 256GB and 512GB capacities.

Nintendo has a long history of vigorously protecting its intellectual property through legal action. In early 2024, the company filed a lawsuit against Tropic Haze LLC, the creators of the Yuzu emulator, which enabled users to play Nintendo Switch games on non-Nintendo hardware. The lawsuit was settled in March 2024, with Tropic Haze agreeing to pay $2.4 million in damages and cease all development of the emulator.