'Nintendo Is Absolutely Furious': Former Employee Says Mario, Zelda Developer in 'Uncharted Territory' Following Major Leaks

Nintendo volition beryllium "furious" with past week's large leaks that elaborate galore Switch 2 games acceptable to motorboat passim the remainder of 2026 and into 2027, including a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and motorboat details for the adjacent large 3D Mario platformer.

That's according to ex-Nintendo worker Kit Ellis, who present hosts the Kit & Krysta podcast that dissects the latest goings connected astatine their erstwhile employer.

Last week, renowned leaker Natethehate efficaciously laid retired Nintendo's afloat motorboat plans for the adjacent 12 months and beyond, successful astonishing and frankly unprecedented fashion. Numerous Nintendo games person leaked successful the past, of course, but it's hard to retrieve specified unfastened treatment of the company's upcoming merchandise slate happening rather similar this successful the past.

Natethehate's leak not lone spoiled the announcement of a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake this Christmas, but of a caller Star Fox crippled and caller Switch Sports rubric owed this summer.

The coming months volition besides reportedly spot the motorboat of previously-announced games specified arsenic Splatoon escapade spinoff Splatoon Raiders, Rhythm Heaven: Groove and Fire Emblem: Fortune Weave, alongside Switch 2 Editions for Pikmin 4 and Xenoblade 2.

Finally, Natethehate claimed that Nintendo's long-awaited adjacent 3D Mario platformer would not get successful 2026 — thing that has travel arsenic a stroke to fans counting the galore years since the motorboat of Super Mario Odyssey, astir a decennary ago.

"I tin committedness you that Nintendo is perfectly furious astir this," erstwhile Nintendo of America PR manager Kit Ellis said successful a station connected societal media. "If you're trying to debar this stuff, bully luck, due to the fact that it's each implicit the place," helium continued, noting that Natethehate had "a precise close way grounds for a truly agelong clip now."

"My caput goes to Nintendo and however they truly person a occupation with leaks close present that they don't look to beryllium capable to solve," Ellis said, highlighting the unprecedented quality of the leak and what it means for a institution similar Nintendo that relies connected the constituent of astonishment to assistance marketplace its upcoming games.

"This isn't conscionable idiosyncratic cryptically tweeting retired a fewer things 24 hours earlier a Nintendo Direct," Ellis said. "This is idiosyncratic who has laid retired their full line-up for the remainder of this twelvemonth and portion of adjacent year's. For a institution similar Nintendo whose attack to selling is propped up by the constituent of surprise, it's a large problem.

"This conscionable feels similar uncharted territory for Nintendo. They've had leakers before, and they've dealt with leakers before. This feels similar a antithetic concern and I don't cognize what's going to hap next. But for the institution overall, this is going to go a large precedence going forward."

Nintendo is yet to remark connected the leaks, and seems improbable to bash so. Reportedly, the institution does not program to big immoderate large announcement showcase earlier this summer's yearly June Nintendo Direct. Earlier today, Microsoft announced plans for its ain Xbox Games Showcase.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social