UPDATE: 2025-07-31 20:47 EST BY RHIANNON BEVAN
Genki issues a statement
Genki has responded to the news of the lawsuit, expressing that its business will continue as usual. The statement has been added to the end of this report.
Summary
Gaming accessory manufacturer Genki is being sued byNintendofor trademark infringement. This comes after the company claimed that it was makingNintendo Switch 2accessories before the console had been announced, and even created a mockup of what it believed the console to look like, which it shared at a convention.
Nintendo takes particular issue with the mockup, as Genki had seemingly suggested that it created the mold for the model from a real Switch 2. Due to this, Nintendo accuses Genki of either lying to consumers or gaining unauthorised access to the Switch 2, which it then used to further its business through the production of launch day accessories.
As spotted byResetEra user Truno, the lawsuit was shared on social media by @OatmealDome. You can read Nintendo’s complaint in fullhere. The complaint predominantly relates toGenki’s behaviour at and in the run-up to CES earlier this year, in which Genki displayed a Switch 2 mock-up that featured Nintendo branding, while also showing a video at its booth of what it claimed the Switch 2 would look like.
We already knew that the mock-ups were not the result of a partnership between Nintendo and Genki, as Nintendoissued a statement at the time, confirming that they were unofficial. Therefore, Nintendo takes issue with Genki making the claim that its accessories would be compatible with the Switch 2 from day one, since it had no legitimate method of ensuring this.
Some Of The Evidence Nintendo Has Shared In Its Lawsuit Against Genki
How Genki got the schematics is less clear. Speaking toIGNat CES, the company claimed the mock-up came from leaks that were already being shared online, distancing itself from the idea that it had been the source of any leaks. However, French outletNumeramasays that a Genki representative told them that the mock-ups came from “molds made from an authentic copy” of the console.
Therefore, Nintendo puts forward two theories in its complaint: either the compatibility of its accessories cannot be guaranteed, in which case it is “misleading the public”, or Genki did actually “illegally and/or illicitly” access a real Switch 2 to guarantee the accessory compatibility.
Outside of that issue, Nintendo claims that Genki has also been using Nintendo trademarks to further its business, citing the “Genki Direct” live stream as an example. Another is the Nintendo logo on the mock-ups.
Genki has issued the followingstatement:
“We’re taking it seriously and working with legal counsel to respond thoughtfully. What we can say is this: Genki has always been an independent company focused on building innovative gaming accessories for the community we love. We’re proud of the work we’ve done, and we stand by the quality and originality of our products.
“While we can’t comment in detail, we’re continuing preparations to fulfill orders and showcase our newest products at PAX East this week. We’re grateful for the overwhelming support we’ve received so far. We’ll share more when we can, but for now, we’re staying focused on doing what we do best: building gear for gamers.”
