A Chinese leaker has stirred the gaming community by revealing CAD images of the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 and claiming to possess a working model up for grabs. This mysterious figure, appearing on Reddit, is reportedly offering the next-gen console to an accessory manufacturer for roughly $39,800.
The design in the leaked CAD files seems to have already found its way into prototypes from Dbrand and other accessory makers eager to get ahead of the Switch 2 launch. Given the leak’s accuracy, which aligns neatly with the final design revealed in Nintendo’s official video, this leaker might be the real deal. However, it’s always wise to approach such leaks with a dose of skepticism.
Communicating via Xiaohongshu forums, the leaker has told a potential buyer they can tinker with the Switch 2’s dock, joystick, and tablet. They’ve also suggested that Pro controllers might be available by next week, hinting at a possible upgrade to Nintendo’s current Switch Pro accessory.
A post on Reddit showcases a screenshot of the leaker’s chats with a black market seller, detailing how they’re naming a price of $39,780 for the Switch 2 setup. But are they really willing to pay that much for early access? The decision likely hinges on the potential profit from this venture. Having hands-on time with the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware could be invaluable for case and accessory manufacturers—whether official or otherwise—keen to design compatible products ahead of the official release.
Engaging in such transactions on the black market, where cash flows freely, implies the leaker might also demand a hefty fee from any unofficial accessory makers wanting a sneak peek at this high-tech equipment.
As it stands, no games enhanced specifically for Switch 2 have been released yet, nor will any physical copies hit the market until closer to the actual launch. However, if this console comes with an operational operating system straight out of the box, there’s ample opportunity for pre-release development projects to kick off, making this situation all the more intriguing.
Fingers crossed that Nintendo doesn’t keep us in suspense for too long about the official release date. Though it would be amusing if the launch was so distant that the leaker’s enterprising move turns out to be a moot point.
