A few days ago, a video was released showing how the Nintendo Switch console worked and the details on operating it. The person who released the video, a NeoGaf user called hiphoptherobot, claimed that the console was a pre-order that was accidentally released early. According to Nintendo, the console in the video had been stolen.

The console

For the uninitiated, The Nintendo Switch is the latest console following the Wii-U. Unlike its predecessor, the Switch utilizes cartridges instead of CDs. The latest entry in the popular "Zelda" series, "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild," will be the swan song for the Wii-U and one of the launch titles for the Switch.

The Wii-U version will be displayed in 720p, while the Switch version will run at 900p.

The video

The video released by hiphiptherobot was three minutes in duration and basically a tutorial on how to go through the setup and user interface of the Nintendo Switch. The maker avoided connecting to the internet and using online features to avoid any potential trouble with Nintendo.

A stolen console

However, after the video was posted, Nintendo got in touch with hiphoptherobot to inform him that the device in the video had been stolen. Nintendo made a statement to IGN claiming that the device in the video and others had been stolen by an employee of a US distributor and one being unlawfully resold. The following quote is the statement Nintendo made out:

"Earlier this week, individuals claimed to prematurely purchase a small number of Nintendo Switch systems from an unspecified retailer.

Nintendo has determined these units were stolen in an isolated incident by employees of a U.S. distributor, with one system being illegally resold. The individuals involved have been identified, terminated from their place of employment and are under investigation by local law enforcement authorities on criminal charges."

The aftermath

The user, hiphoptherobot, claimed that he did not know that the device he bought was stolen when he made the video and promptly returned the device to Nintendo. The console is slated for a worldwide release on March 3rd, 2017.