When a couple of notable leaks featuring the alleged controller of Nintendo's upcoming console, the Nintendo NX, fans generally went up in arms. For one, a number of users pointed out that the leaked images, which featured an oddly-shaped controller that seemed to feature a touchscreen, looked unsightly and uncomfortable to use.
Some of the netizens who saw the images even wished that they were fake.
Well, as it turns out, the images really were fake. Thus, netizens who were alarmed, or even aghast with the alleged leaks, can now breathe a sigh of relief.
Notably, the truth behind the images came from the people behind them, with the pranksters even stating exactly how the images were created. The first image, which many suggested was fake due to the poor lighting on the picture, and which was originally posted in a Reddit thread, turned out to be a work of pure Photoshop.
The second leak, which looked far more legitimate, turned out to be a prank that simply rode on the trend of the first leak. Unlike the first fake leaked controller, however, the second one did not simply use Photoshop. It used Photoshop, a FormLabs Form 2 3D printer and a Trotec laser cutter. Thus, the legit look really went down simply because it really existed in real life. The only problem was that it was not a controller at all. It was just a 3D vanity printed vanity project.
Frank Sandqvist, who designed and 3D printed the controller featured on the second leak, stated that the prank started out of curiosity.
"My brother and I, we run this company where we have a laser cutter and 3D printer, and I thought it would be funny to see how easy it would be to recreate that photoshopped 'leak' in real life. It turns out, it's pretty easy," he said.
Of course, now that the people behind the fake images came clean, fans of Nintendo's upcoming console could rest assure that the rather alarming design is not real at all. However, many are wondering why Nintendo never stepped in and immediately declared the images to be fake.
Some analysts believe that Nintendo probably predicted that the furor regarding the alleged leaks would eventually die out. Some, however, have taken a more controversial stance, stating that Nintendo's silence probably pertains to the fakes being quite close to the actual NX controller.
Alas, with Nintendo's seeming vow of silence about the upcoming console, fans are left with mere speculation once more.
