In a development that sent shockwaves in the gaming accessory industry, Nintendo sued the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Genki, also referred to as Human Things, over the usage of a replica of a Nintendo Switch 2 by the accessory company without the company’s permission. The claim for trademark infringement, false advertising, and unfair competition was brought when the suit was filed.
The hubbub kicked off back at CES 2025, held in January, when Genki unveiled what it said was an “exact” physical duplication of the soon-to-be-launched Switch 2 console. The clone, shown behind closed doors, reported the same form and size consistent with extensive rumors as well as included a magnetic Joy-Con 2 removal and a matching dimension. The gen among the hype at the Genki clone put it on Nintendo attorneys’ radars, where its CES booth visit by said lawyers followed later on.
After the meeting, Genki shut down its CES booth a day early. Several months later, the scandal came to a head, and Nintendo sued. The crux of Nintendo’s lawsuit involves Genki’s pre-announcement promotion of Switch 2 accessories. Nintendo alleges that Genki CEO Eddie Tsai’s social media comments and the ensuing promotion of accessories encroached on Nintendo trademarks.
In particular, Nintendo references a “Genki Direct” video posted on April 2, the date when Nintendo announced the Switch 2’s June 5 launch, as well as Mario Kart World-type games. Nintendo’s lawyers are asking the court to require Genki to refrain from advertising, selling, or distributing Switch or Switch 2 accessories for sale.
The case now awaits the approval of the judiciary. Nintendo is known for fiercely protecting its intellectual property and has won in the court war against share-hosting websites and Switch pirates. What happens here will be keenly watched within the gaming industry, as it may determine the future of the way accessory companies deal with unreleased console data. The gamers are eagerly awaiting the verdict from the court, which will define the next step in this story.
