Official news on the Nintendo Switch 2 remains elusive, other than confirmation that Nintendo is working on a successor to its very popular home console/portable console hybrid system But thanks to a new leak that may give us our first glimpse of Nintendo's next-generation hardware, that wait may be over

A recent post on the popular Reddit forum GamingLeaksAndRumors claims to have found prototype images of the Nintendo Switch 2 via a “Chinese website” before we get any information about the Switch 2, these images are un It is very important to note that they should be considered verified However, these images that have appeared online are consistent with recent leaks claiming that the Switch 2 is in full production

The leaked information consists of approximately a dozen images showcasing various aspects of the console along with the Joy-Con controller What is most striking about the Switch 2 that has been released is that it looks almost identical to the previous model If these images are accurate, the Switch 2 will also be a hybrid machine designed with portable play in mind

The one significant change is that the body is significantly larger, but other than that, the Switch 2 is virtually indistinguishable from the previous model The same goes for the Joy-Con controllers shown in this prototype image The button layout is the same, and it appears to use a sliding rail system to attach and detach from the console If accurate, the Switch 2 will not be a radical redesign

Other notable changes include a larger kickstart (similar to the one on the Nintendo Switch OLED), a redesigned unlock button for removing the Joy-Con from the console, and two USB-C ports (one on top and one is on the bottom), and two USB-C ports (one on the top and one on the bottom) We can also see a physical card slot in the console itself, which may indicate that the Switch 2 will be backward compatible

The million dollar question, of course, is whether these images are real, and we can't answer that specifically right now But if this is indeed the first look at the Nintendo Switch 2, it means that the Japanese gaming giant has bucked the historical trend of innovating with each new console and instead opted to stick with what worked

That would not be a bad thing; the Nintendo Switch is a juggernaut for a reason Nevertheless, Nintendo is a company known for taking big shots, and some of its most rabid fans may be frustrated by the possibility of taking a more predictable path with the Switch 2

Only time will tell if these prototype images are real According to other recent leaks, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be called exactly that (there will be no confusion between Wii and Wii U this time), and with a retail price of $400, it looks like a real bargain compared to the $699 for the PS5 Pro We hope Nintendo will speak with us off the record soon so that we can get some concrete answers