Nintendo Files Lawsuit Against Switch 2 Leaker Genki
The Mario maker is suing accessory brand Genki for spoiling details for its next-gen handheld.
While Nintendo tried to contain leaks of its Switch 2 before launch, rumormongers ruled the scene with a variety of mostly accurate descriptions and dummy units. Now Nintendo is suing the accessory maker that gave everyone some of the best early insights into its new handheld. As much as the lawsuit is an attempt to quash a leaker, it also reveals how Nintendo's desperate efforts to control its own narrative largely failed.
In a lawsuit filed on May 2, Nintendo sued Human Things, Inc. aka Genki, for trademark infringement. It's a shotgun blast of a lawsuit that claims the accessory maker engaged in unfair competition and false advertising thanks to its use of Nintendo Switch 2 logos and hardware designs. If Nintendo gets its way, Genki would need to stop selling any accessories related to the Switch 2 and pay up an undisclosed amount in damages.
Genki hinted that it was working on Switch 2 accessories even before Nintendo first revealed its second handheld console in January. During CES 2025, the company was notorious for its booth where it showed customers a Switch 2 mockup, substantially revealing key details of the console. The 3D-printed Switch 2 dummy unit was surprisingly accurate, down to the 8-inch screen size and the Joy-Con 2 controllers that attached with a magnetic lock system. Genki even posted an animation of a Switch 2 render to its website, which you can still find on Reddit. The accessory maker offered some inconsistent messaging about where its designs for the Switch 2 mockup came from, though they've since proved to be spot-on.
Nintendo claims Genki couldn't have had any ability to create early mockups of its Switch 2 without 'access to a Nintendo Switch 2 console or to proprietary technical specifications, neither of which Nintendo provided and/or authorized.' Nintendo also noted Genki included Nintendo's official logos on its rendering of a Switch 2 dock it displayed at CES 2025, which resulted 'in confusion among consumers as to the validity of Genki's statements and association with Nintendo.'
Genki held its own 'Genki Indirect' on April 2, just two hours after Nintendo's official Direct for the Switch 2 announcement, where it showed off its upcoming accessories and peripherals. In a statement published to X, Genki wrote, 'while we can't comment in detail' about the lawsuit 'we're continuing preparations to fulfill orders and showcase our newest products at PAX East this week.'
A Note from the Genki Team
You may have seen that Nintendo recently filed a lawsuit against us. We're taking it seriously and working with legal counsel to respond thoughtfully.
What we can say is this: Genki has always been an independent company focused on building innovative…
— GENKI (@GenkiThings) May 4, 2025
It's not a good idea to cross Nintendo. The company is one of the most litigious in the video game industry. Nintendo regularly goes after people who mod Switch units for sale, such as Canadian programmer Gary Bowser who served prison time over his role at a site that sold modded consoles. Last year, Nintendo sued Pocketpair, the makers of Palworld—otherwise known as 'Pokémon with guns'—claiming copyright infringement.
Genki should have had every reason to expect Nintendo would knock on its door. The company reportedly received a visit from Nintendo's lawyers during CES 2025. However, it wasn't the only accessory maker to share Switch 2 details early. On Dec. 13, before the Switch 2 reveal, Dbrand revealed early renders of its upcoming Switch 2 cases that showcased the handheld's 'U'-shaped kickstand. Dbrand has experience with lawsuits from major console makers, so it could have held back on offering as much insight as Genki did.
The lead-up to the Switch 2 was long, and companies should expect leaks will happen. Nintendo began work on the Switch 2 shortly after releasing its original Switch, according to the lawsuit. That's more than eight years where Nintendo specifically tried to keep the news quiet until the very last minute on January 16 this year. It's also not like leakers were entirely to blame for spoiling the Switch 2. Nintendo's own patents spelled out the Switch 2's mouse controls before the feature was officially shown off. No company enjoys having its products leaked, but it was Nintendo's own closed-mouth approach to the launch that created this media fervor, as much as it would like to point the finger elsewhere.
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