Nintendo Lawyers Reportedly Confronted Company That Leaked Switch 2 Replica

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Summary

  • Nintendo‘s lawyers have reportedly confronted Genki over its Switch 2 replica showcased at CES 2025.
  • Genki’s dummy device was supposedly based on a real Switch 2 model purchased on the black market.
  • It remains unclear how likely Nintendo is to pursue legal action against Genki over the circumstances surrounding the creation of its Switch 2 replica.

It appears that lawyers representing Nintendo have allegedly spoken with Genki, the company behind a replica of the Switch 2 that has been circulating on social media since early January 2025. This prototype, which seems to be an accurate depiction of the successor to the Switch, may have drawn the attention of Nintendo’s legal team due to certain aspects related to its production.

At the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Genki, a company that produces consumer electronics and accessories, unveiled a replica of the Switch 2, which garnered lots of attention. The commotion caused by this reveal was so great that Nintendo felt compelled to release a public statement, confirming that Genki’s version of the Switch 2 wasn’t an official product. Although it was just stating the obvious, it was significant because it represented a very unusual instance of Nintendo addressing product leaks in any manner.

It appears that Nintendo may have taken action beyond just commenting on Genki’s promotional event. French journalist Julien Tellouck claims that Nintendo’s lawyers confronted the company producing the Switch 2 replica at the CES 2025 exhibition, allegedly due to a statement from an anonymous Genki representative. Since Genki did not sign a non-disclosure agreement with Nintendo, the person speaking with Tellouck suggests they are protected from legal consequences, according to The Game Post’s interpretation of the journalist’s report. However, social media posts from CES 2025 attendees suggest that Genki departed the trade show a day early, which ended on January 10.

Genki Might Get in Trouble For Purchasing a Switch 2 on the Black Market

The possible reason for Nintendo’s lawyers inquiring, resulting in Genki closing its CES 2025 booth early, revolves around the details of their replica product’s development. Particularly, a Genki representative is said to have told Numerama that the dummy device was modeled after an actual Switch 2 unit obtained through illicit channels. This could account for Genki appearing to know a lot about the Switch 2, but it also might expose them to legal action.

In the United States, it’s illegal under federal laws such as 18 U.S.C. § 2315 and § 659 to possess stolen goods, like Genki’s black market Switch 2 if it was bought in Japan. Similarly, owning such an item would also be against the law in Japan according to their Penal Code, articles 253 and 254. However, these laws apply only to criminal cases. Nintendo could potentially sue Genki for theft or conversion (unlawful taking) of their product, either in the U.S. or Japan, even though civil actions aren’t typically covered by these specific pieces of legislation.

It remains undecided if Nintendo will take legal action against Genki over their Switch 2 imitation, but they have promised to unveil their upcoming console by no later than March 31.

Sources: Numerama, GovInfo, Cabinet Secretariat of Japan

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2025-01-12 21:12