Nintendo Ninjas Are Real, and They're Very Good at Finding Leakers — Say Former Company Employee

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Nintendo reportedly has an internal team dedicated to tracking down leaks, according to former employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang. The pair, who once hosted the official Nintendo Minute show, recently revealed that the so-called “Nintendo Ninjas” are actual employees whose job is to investigate leaks and identify their sources.

Krysta explained, “We joke around about the Nintendo Ninjas, but this is an actual team. They’re very elite, very good at their jobs, and they will solve these cases. It might take a week, it might take a year, but they will solve it.” Kit echoed the point, saying Nintendo treats leaks with extreme seriousness, especially when it comes to protecting the element of surprise.

Now, if you’ve been following Nintendo news over the last year, you’ve probably noticed that leaks feel more common than ever. Whether it’s upcoming Nintendo Directs, Switch 2 hardware, or new titles, fans often hear whispers before the official announcements. And while some of us might enjoy speculating, the former employees pointed out why Nintendo hates this trend—it creates what they call “expectation management” issues.

Here’s the problem: once a leak happens, the hype machine spins out of control. People start imagining the next Animal Crossing or Smash Bros. reveal, even if Nintendo never promised anything. Then, when the actual Direct happens and those rumors don’t pan out, fans feel disappointed—sometimes unfairly turning that frustration toward Nintendo.

As per Kit and Krysta, leaks weren’t always this frequent. Back when they were at the company, secrecy was drilled into employees—nothing could leak because surprise was considered the top priority. But with Nintendo’s audience growing larger than ever, especially with the hype around Switch 2, the number of people digging for information has skyrocketed. That includes not just fans, but also manufacturers, third-party partners, and even individuals chasing a bit of internet clout.

They compared the situation to Apple. Over time, Apple has almost given up on secrecy because iPhone leaks happen so often. Nintendo, however, isn’t the type to “wave the white flag.” Instead, the company relies on strict internal processes and its leak investigation team. But once information leaves the “secure ring” of Nintendo’s first-party teams—say, when it involves manufacturing or external studios—it becomes much harder to control.

What about you? Do you think Nintendo should keep fighting to protect its surprises, or just accept that leaks are here to stay?