Leaks are a common occurrence in the gaming industry, and nowadays, it often feels like maintaining secrecy is an increasingly difficult task. However, one company that traditionally excels at keeping its plans under wraps is Nintendo, consistently managing to deliver major surprises. This knack for unpredictability is so integral to their identity that it’s practically a cornerstone of their business model.
This is why significant recent rumors have drawn considerable attention. Speculation suggests a new Star Fox game could launch as early as this summer (which might explain the space fox’s appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie), followed by a Switch sports title and a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time later this autumn. While the veracity of these leaks remains unconfirmed, they don’t appear entirely implausible. If accurate, Nintendo’s future presentations would undoubtedly lose much of their anticipated excitement without the element of surprise.
Now, Kit Ellis, former Nintendo PR manager, has commented on social media, indicating that the company is clearly grappling with a leak problem that it cannot seem to control. He suggests that Nintendo is “absolutely furious” about the situation and that it could be highly detrimental.
Ellis stated: “I can promise you Nintendo is absolutely furious about this. My heart goes out to Nintendo and how they really have a leak problem right now that they don’t seem to be able to solve. This isn’t just someone cryptically tweeting a few things 24 hours before a Nintendo Direct. This is someone laying out their entire lineup for the rest of the year and part of next year. For a company like Nintendo, whose entire approach to marketing is underpinned by the element of surprise, this is a big problem.”
While Nintendo has certainly been affected by leaks before, these incidents usually involve rumors surfacing just hours or a few days prior to an official announcement. This time, potentially an entire year’s worth of plans has been exposed. To compound the issue, the same source (Nate the Hate) also claimed that the next 3D Mario title won’t arrive until 2027. This revelation could potentially encourage prospective Nintendo Switch 2 buyers, especially those primarily interested in a new Mario experience, to postpone their console purchase.
Ellis concludes by stressing that addressing these leaks will become a major priority for Nintendo moving forward. He remarked: “This just feels like uncharted territory for Nintendo. They’ve had leakers before, and they’ve dealt with leakers before. This feels like a different situation and I don’t know what happens next. But for the company as a whole, this is going to be a major priority going forward.”
As previously mentioned, the legitimacy of these leaks is yet to be definitively confirmed. However, with summer approaching and two rumored game releases scheduled for this season, more clarity is likely to emerge soon.