New Nintendo Switch 2 release window leaks explained

Leaks, rumors and speculation characterized the early days leading up to Nintendo's official reveal Nintendo Switch 2whose development was confirmed at the beginning of the year. The console is expected to be a direct successor to the first Switch, retaining its design and core features – a rarity for modern Nintendo home consoles.

For a long time it was assumed that the new Nintendo Switch would be available for purchase in early 2025 or at least the first half of 2025. Information straight from the horse's mouth has been pretty sparse, although Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has previously gone on record saying that the console will be revealed sometime before March next year. This has led many to believe that there would be an official reveal in the fall or early winter, followed by a large-scale release just a few months later. But now new rumors suggest that the Switch 2 release date may be further away than many initially expected.

Why some believe the Nintendo Switch 2 release has been delayed

The Famiboards Nintendo Switch 2 Leaks

The latest Switch 2 news comes from a user named RandomlyRandom67 on Famiboards, a forum associated with Nintendo leaks and general speculation. In a hidden post, RandomlyRandom67 claims to have details about Switch 2 component shipments, indicating that the console has not yet entered mass production as of August this year. The reason for this is that if Nintendo had planned to launch its next flagship console in early 2025, mass production would likely have begun in August of this year, especially since Nintendo has been transparent about its hopes of avoiding its competitors' supply chain problems has back in 2020 and 2021.

Can you trust the rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 release date?

The frustrating thing about Nintendo Switch 2 leaks and rumors is that it's nearly impossible to verify the validity of most sources, as Nintendo itself has revealed next to nothing about the system at the time of writing. News outlets, discussion forums, and individual reporters can often rely on little more than their source's track record when assessing the veracity of Switch 2 claims, and even the most consistent leakers sometimes make mistakes. Therefore, as always, RandomlyRandom67's claims need to be taken with a healthy dose of salt.

However, there are some aspects of the above Famiboards post that are worth examining in more detail. RandomlyRandom67, who claims to have access to shipping records from Vietnamese switch maker HVBG, highlights some key components, including HDMI port testers, circuit boards, and something described as an “external gaming console connection device.” Given their vague descriptions and HVBG's professional relationship with Nintendo, it's reasonable to assume that these components are related to the Nintendo Switch 2's hardware.

Apparently the volume of these component shipments to HVBG is dwarfed by the monthly component shipments for production of the original Switch – in some cases the ratio is 4:1. Since the first Nintendo Switch is already over seven years old at this point and demand for the Switch 2 will naturally be significantly higher, this difference in component shipments certainly suggests that the latter has not yet entered mass production.

At the same time, alternative explanations cannot be ruled out. On the one hand, it may be obvious to link these components to the Switch 2, but this connection is not incontrovertible, especially since most laypeople are not privy to everything that is made at HVBG and the machinations of other technology companies. they could be intended for a completely different product. So claims like these might be useful for establishing context and expectations, but audiences should wait for an actual hardware reveal of the Switch 2 before jumping to conclusions.

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console released in 2017 that can be played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh in 2021.