Nintendo has initiated legal action against accessory manufacturer Genki, alleging trademark infringement after the company displayed renders of a Nintendo Switch 2 "mockup" months prior to Nintendo’s official console reveal.

Recall a few months back when Genki, the accessories brand at the center of the Switch 2 mockup controversy at CES 2025 in January, was reportedly contacted by Nintendo’s legal team. At the time, Genki informed the media it had not signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Nintendo, claiming it had "no cause for concern."

Genki showcased the Switch 2 mockup, unveiled three months before Nintendo's official announcement, asserting it was based on an actual Switch 2 system they had accessed to design compatible accessories.

According to court documents reviewed by IGN, Nintendo is now suing Genki, accusing the company of "launching a calculated campaign to exploit public excitement surrounding Nintendo's next-generation console," citing trademark infringement, unfair competition, and deceptive advertising.

Nintendo claims Genki "promoted its alleged early access to the unreleased console and permitted attendees to handle and examine the mockups," further alleging that Genki’s compatibility claims "could not be substantiated without unauthorized, illegal access to the Nintendo Switch 2... misleading consumers about the compatibility of its products with the Nintendo Switch 2."

"In January 2025, [Genki] began promoting its unauthorized access to Nintendo's forthcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console, which had not yet been publicly revealed or released by Nintendo," the court documents stated.

"After initially claiming access to an authentic Nintendo Switch 2 console, Genki’s statements became contradictory, later denying possession of the console. Nonetheless, the company continued to assure consumers that its accessories would be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2 upon its release."

Genki Nintendo Switch Mockup Images from CES 2025

The Japanese gaming giant also accused Genki of violating its trademarks in its promotional materials, "directly competing with Nintendo and its licensed partners’ legitimate marketing of authorized accessories."

Nintendo expressed disapproval of a January 20 tweet from Genki, showing CEO Edward Tsai with a finger to his lips and the caption: "Genki ninjas infiltrate Nintendo Kyoto HQ," alongside a pop-up on Genki’s website stating: "Can you keep a secret? We can’t..."

Nintendo is seeking to bar Genki from using its trademarked "Nintendo Switch" name in marketing, destroy any products or materials referencing Nintendo’s branding, and recover unspecified "damages caused by Genki’s infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising, with damages to be tripled."

Over the weekend, Genki issued a response on social media, stating: "You may have heard about Nintendo’s recent lawsuit against us. We’re addressing it seriously and collaborating with legal counsel to respond carefully.

"To clarify: Genki remains an independent company dedicated to creating innovative gaming accessories for the community we cherish. We take pride in our work and stand by the quality and originality of our products. While we’re unable to provide detailed comments, we’re moving forward with preparations to fulfill orders and display our latest products at PAX East this week."

The statement concluded by expressing gratitude "for the tremendous support received so far." "We’ll provide updates when possible, but for now, we’re focused on what we do best: crafting gear for gamers," it added.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is slated for release on June 5. Pre-orders began on April 24, with the console priced at $449.99 — and demand was as high as anticipated. Meanwhile, Nintendo has cautioned U.S. customers who pre-ordered through the My Nintendo Store, noting that delivery by the release date is not guaranteed due to overwhelming demand.

Visit IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide for more details.