Nintendo Switch 2 consoles will launch completely dead until Nintendo unlocks them

The launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 is right around the corner, and some people have already received their console ahead of the official June 5 launch day. However, none of these consoles work.

A new leak shows a Nintendo Switch 2 box being opened, with the console and Joy-Con 2 controllers inside. According to the person who shared the video of the Switch 2 being out in the wild, the console is locked and "needs an update to function". The individual said they are waiting until June 5th to unlock it. Additionally, X user Wario64 recently wrote that another user shared they have obtained a Nintendo Switch 2 console and that when they attempted to boot a Switch 1 game, the following message appeared: "Please connect to the internet and update your system."

These rumors fall in line with previous reports that reviewers were not going to get samples from Nintendo until the launch day, and that systems will require a day-one update. It seems the day-one update will be to actually enable the console to function. The consoles arriving locked until June 5 is no mistake by Nintendo, and is in part being used as a strategy to prevent early coverage or leaks about the console before it officially launches on June 5. Quite smart.

However, there is also the practical side, which is that it's possible not all Nintendo Switch 2 units are running the same version of software, as the units were constructed at different times. The software may have been further optimized since the first units were produced. Rolling out a day-one update will bring all systems up to the latest firmware/operating system version. Additionally, the original Nintendo Switch required a day-one update.