Leaks happen all the time in the gaming world and these days it almost seems like no one is even trying to keep secrets anymore. But one company that's usually pretty good at this is Nintendo, which always manages to pull off some major surprises. They're so famous for it that unpredictability is practically part of their business model.
That's why many people reacted when rumours recently surfaced that a new Star Fox game would be released as early as this summer (which would explain the space fox's role in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie), followed by a Switch Sports game and a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time later this autumn. We don't know if the leaks are true, but it doesn't seem entirely implausible, and Nintendo's presentations will of course be significantly less interesting if they can't surprise us in the same way.
Now, Nintendo's former PR manager Kit Ellis states on social media that the company clearly has a problem with leaks it can't seem to get under control, and suggests they are absolutely furious about the situation and that it could harm them:
"I can promise you that Nintendo is absolutely furious about this. My mind goes to Nintendo and how they really have a problem with leaks right now that they don't seem to be able to solve. This isn't just somebody cryptically tweeting out a few things 24 hours before a Nintendo Direct. This is somebody who has laid out their entire lineup for the rest of this year and part of next year's. For a company like Nintendo, whose approach to marketing is propped up by the element of surprise, it's a big problem."
Of course, this isn't the first time Nintendo has been hit by leaks, but usually these involve rumours a few hours or possibly days before an official announcement. Now, potentially the entire year's plans have leaked, and to make matters worse, the same source (Nate the Hate) claimed that the next 3D Mario won't arrive until 2027, meaning that those who want a Switch 2 primarily for Mario can take it easy and wait with their console purchase. Ellis concludes by noting that leaks will be a priority for Nintendo moving forward:
"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's going to happen next. But for the company overall, this is going to become a major priority going forward."
As mentioned, we still don't know if the leaks are actually legitimate, but summer is approaching, so we'll likely find out more soon, given that two games are set to release during that season.
What's your take on leaks like these?