A recent Nintendo Switch 2 leak is believed to be legitimate according to a new report, which claims to have seen more photographic evidence.
There has been an excess of Nintendo Switch 2 leaks this past month thanks to accessory companies, but the boldest of the lot came from a Reddit user claiming to have actually got their hands on the console itself.
Going by the name NextHandheld, they suggested the Joy-Con’s mysterious extra button was tied to ‘new experiences’ and that there will be a special bundle containing Mario Kart 9 – with a promise to share definitive proof on Christmas Day.
He offered no proof, but not only did the moderators of the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit deem NextHandheld trustworthy, but so has a reputable outlet that says they’ve seen enough evidence to believes the claims are legitimate.
A new report from The Verge says NextHandheld shared with it photos of what it believes are the inside of a Switch 2 controller rail (complete with certification logos) and, most intriguingly, the Switch 2 dock.
While enough details of the Switch 2 have made their way online for people to construct 3D renders of it, there’s been very little, if any information about the console’s dock.
Although NextHandheld has remained pretty tight-lipped about certain details, The Verge believes the Switch 2 might run faster when plugged into the dock. Not only has NextHandheld hinted the dock has a fan built into it, but it apparently also has an extra large stand at the back.
The Verge theorises this is so vents on the dock won’t be blocked and result in overheating, should it fall on its side. It’s unlikely, though, that you’ll be able to lay the dock horizontally (like you can with the PlayStation 5) since the console itself would then tip out.
Aside from that, NextHandheld has discussed details already widely assumed, based on prior leaks, such as the U-shaped kickstand and the Joy-Con controllers being magnetic.
The Verge says the rail for attaching the Joy-Cons is more of a hollow area that you can slot a controller into, with NextHandheld adding there’s a much larger button you press to release it. That does line up with a previous Joy-Con leak, that showed such a button on the controller’s back.
NextHandheld also reiterated how a Switch 2 reveal could happen as early as January (something others have also claimed to have heard) and that the console’s final name is just the Nintendo Switch 2.
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They refused to discuss more than that, stressing they weren’t able to turn the console on, so further specifics about its backwards compatibility (like whether it can run physical games for the original Switch), storage space, and possible extra features like a microphone and camera remain a mystery.
Considering Nintendo has already promised to show off the Switch 2 before April 2025 and there have been claims of a possible March or April launch, a January reveal does seem very plausible.
Then again, others have suggested the Switch 2 is aiming for a summer launch, following a May event of some kind. Perhaps the January reveal will serve as the reveal of the console while the May event will be something akin to a Nintendo Direct, tohighlight upcoming games.
Whatever the case, Nintendo may be encouraged to move up its announcement plans if these sorts of leaks keep happening.
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