Nintendo Lawyers Reportedly Confronted Company That Leaked Switch 2 Replica

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home January 12, 2025 2 Views 4 Min Read
Nintendo Lawyers Reportedly Confronted Company That Leaked Switch 2 Replica

Summary

  • Nintendo’s lawyers have reportedly confronted Genki over its Switch 2 replica showcased at CES 2025.
  • Genki’s dummy device was supposedly based on a real Switch 2 model purchased on the black market.
  • It remains unclear how likely Nintendo is to pursue legal action against Genki over the circumstances surrounding the creation of its Switch 2 replica.

Nintendo‘s lawyers have reportedly confronted Genki, the company whose Switch 2 replica has been making the rounds on social media since early January 2025. The dummy device, which is believed to be an accurate representation of the Switch successor, may have caught the attention of Nintendo‘s legal team due to the circumstances surrounding its creation.

Genki is a manufacturer of consumer electronics and accessories. It arrived at the 2025 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with a Switch 2 replica, which attracted significant attention. The buzz generated by this move was so immense that Nintendo even issued a public statement clarifying that Genki’s Switch 2 recreation wasn’t official. While this was merely stating the obvious, it was noteworthy for marking the extremely rare instance of Nintendo commenting on product leaks in any shape or form.

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But it turns out that the Japanese gaming giant might have done more than merely comment on Genki’s publicity stunt. French journalist Julien Tellouck reports that Nintendo’s lawyers have confronted the company behind the Switch 2 replica on the CES 2025 showroom floor, citing a statement from an unnamed Genki representative. Since the accessory maker didn’t sign a non-disclosure agreement with Nintendo, the official who spoke with Tellouck said they believe that the company is safe from legal repercussions, according to The Game Post‘s translation of the journalist’s report. However, social media accounts from CES 2025 attendees indicate that Genki left the trade show, which concluded on January 10, a day early.

Genki Might Get in Trouble For Purchasing a Switch 2 on the Black Market

The main issue that may have prompted inquiries from Nintendo’s attorneys—leading to Genki closing its CES 2025 booth before the show ended—relates to the circumstances surrounding the creation of the accessory maker’s replica. Specifically, a Genki representative reportedly told French outlet Numerama that the company’s dummy device was based on a real Switch 2 model purchased on the black market. While this would explain how Genki seemingly knows so much about the Switch 2, it would also potentially open up the company to litigation.

In the United States, possession of stolen property is prohibited under federal laws 18 U.S.C. § 2315 and § 659. If Genki’s black market Switch 2 was purchased in Japan, such an act would also have been illegal under Japan’s Penal Code, articles 253 and 254. While all of this legislation is only relevant to criminal cases, Nintendo could also theoretically pursue civil action for theft or conversion against Genki, either in the U.S. or Japan.

Although Nintendo is known for being litigious, it’s presently unclear whether the company is seriously considering going after Genki for its Switch 2 replica. As for its next console, Nintendo has previously committed to officially revealing it no later than March 31.

Sources: Numerama, GovInfo, Cabinet Secretariat of Japan

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