Summary
- Third-party company Dbrand possibly leaked an image of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console.
- Dbrand’s accessory case suggests new features for the Switch 2, including an extra button.
Third-party accessories manufacturer Dbrand might have leaked a look at the highly anticipated follow-up to the Nintendo Switch. The leaks come right as anticipation for a new generation of Switch hardware is hitting a peak.
With the Switch entering its eighth year of service as one of the most popular consoles in the world, fans are getting increasingly anxious about when Nintendo will reveal its plans for a hardware upgrade. Though Nintendo has yet to even officially name its next console, more information about what’s next from the company appears to be coming from outside sources. The most recent Switch 2 rumors have been powered by images and info leaked by third-party contractors working with Nintendo, like accessory makers tooling up to design or produce items to go with the successor console.
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Nintendo Switch 2’s Production Rumors Explained
There’s been no shortage of rumors about the Nintendo Switch’s successor, and the train of speculation is only picking up speed.
One such accessory maker is Canada-based Dbrand, which launched a page promoting what it calls the “Switch 2 Killswitch” carrying case. The page features an image of the case with a game console inside. The naming of the accessory, combined with some notable differences between the hardware covered by the case and the actual Nintendo Switch hardware, suggests that Dbrand is indirectly showing fans and potential customers what the Switch 2 will actually look like. With excitement high for the Switch 2 potentially addressing issues with the current hardware, the promotion quickly gathered attention from onlookers and commentators. In comments to Insider Gaming, Dbrand CEO Adam Ijaz said that the hardware rendered inside the case matches the design for the Switch 2.
Switch 2 Hardware Images Potentially Leaked
Dbrand also put up images of the Switch 2 Killswitch case on its official Twitter account. The design of the case lines up with other rumors about changes to the Switch 2 design over the current Switch and Switch OLED. For example, the case includes indentations for an additional button on the right-side Joy-Con housing, distinct from the current “Home” button.
Though Dbrand didn’t say exactly how it obtained the design for the Switch 2, its status as an accessory maker puts it in a position to know what the Switch 2 will look like. Such companies need early information about hardware designs to design and make their products in a timely manner. Dbrand is also known for bold moves that occasionally attract the ire of the major console makers. In 2021, Dbrand fell afoul of Sony, which forced it to stop selling black faceplates for the PlayStation 5. When officially branded black PS5 faceplates went on sale in 2022, Dbrand mocked Sony for not “figuring out the color black.”
Dbrand isn’t the only accessory manufacturer to potentially tip its hand about the Switch 2, whether by accident or intention. Just a few days ago, accessory maker Satisfye accidentally uploaded a trailer for a Switch 2 accessory, the Zengrip 2, revealing blurry images of the Switch 2 (or a close mockup).
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh coming in 2021.