Summary
- Third-party company Dbrand may have leaked an image of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console.
- Dbrand's accessory case proposes new features for the Switch 2, including an additional button.
Third-party accessory maker Dbrand may have released a look at the highly anticipated successor to the Nintendo Switch. The leaks come just as anticipation for a new generation of Switch hardware is at its peak.
As the Switch enters its eighth year of service as one of the most popular consoles in the world, fans are becoming increasingly anxious to know when Nintendo will announce its plans for a hardware upgrade. Although Nintendo hasn't even officially named its next console yet, more information about the company's next steps appears to be coming from outside sources. Recent rumors about the Switch 2 have been supported by images and information released by third parties that work with Nintendo, such as accessory makers that develop tools for designing or manufacturing items for the successor console.
Related
Nintendo Switch 2 production rumors explained
There is no shortage of rumors about the successor to the Nintendo Switch and speculation is gaining momentum.
One such accessory manufacturer is Canada-based Dbrand, which has launched a page promoting the so-called “Switch 2 Killswitch” carrying case. On the side you can see a picture of the case with a games 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 enthusiasm for the Switch 2 potentially fixing issues with current hardware, the promotion quickly caught the attention of viewers and commentators. In a comment to Insider Gaming, Dbrand CEO Adam Ijaz said that the hardware used inside the case matches the design of the Switch 2.
Switch 2 hardware images may have been leaked
Dbrand also posted pictures of the Switch 2 Killswitch case on its official Twitter account. The design of the case is in line with other rumors about changes to the design of the Switch 2 compared to the current Switch and Switch OLED. For example, the case has cutouts for an additional button on the right Joy-Con case, which is different from the current “Home” button.
While Dbrand didn't say exactly how the company got 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 in order to design and manufacture their products in a timely manner. Dbrand is also known for bold moves that occasionally draw the ire of major console manufacturers. In 2021, Dbrand ran afoul of Sony, forcing the company to stop selling black faceplates for the PlayStation 5. When officially branded black PS5 faceplates launched in 2022, Dbrand mocked Sony for “not figuring out the color black.”
Dbrand isn't the only accessory maker that may be accidentally or intentionally making a reference to the Switch 2. 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 nearby model).
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console introduced in 2017 that can be played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh in 2021.
