The Nintendo Switch is finally out and like lots of other gamers it super exciting seeing this hybrid portable handheld, home console and we can't wait to play and customize with some skins.

Hearing the news about damage

We have heard the reports of skins & wraps damaging the Switch plastic, like everyone else this had us worried but from the reports and info it seemed like it was only from a skin maker that uses 3M Architectural wrap, being in the wrap & decal industry for a while i know there is lots of varying grades of vinyl wrap, adhesive solvent & strength levels so knowing this and the fact we use a range of wraps from Avery, Arlon, Hexis, and other grades of 3M i decided i would use my personal device for further testing. 

Making my Switch take one for the team

As normal as soon as we got a Nintendo Switch i got to work on measuring and making a cut template for skins before i even had a chance to play the new Zelda game. Some time later after a bit of R&D and some trial and error we had a skin template ready for the Switch.

I decided to go with a a retro snes theme skin for the 1st test, so the skin was made and fit, fitment was great and it looked awesome, got to love the nostalgic style.

After 24 hours or so i removed the joycon skins and they came off fine and on inspecting the condition of the joycons they looked fine, no damaged had been caused the plastic coating had not peeled or damaged in any way so things where looking good. Checking the PSA that had been released we decided to do another test for longer as reports of damage where when a skin wrap had been on for more than 48 hours.

So it was time for another test this time i just did a quick Legend of Zelda inspired skin for the joycons. Again after 48 hours the skins removed from the joycon fine no issues or damage caused. However we did get a little worried when removing the skin from the joycon grip as it looked like something had happened to it but on further inspection it was just a little reside from the skin as instead of removing the skin with care and taking my time i ripped it of quickly being hasty.

Being hasty and ripping the skin off it left a little adhesive on the Nintendo Switch logo with it having more texture, after a quick wipe clean it was clear it was not damaged, what a relief. 

At this point skins had been on the main part of the Nintendo Switch & Dock for almost 4 or 5 days now and even though i loved how it looked with the retro super nintendo theme skins i though it was best to take skins off all parts just to make sure. I removed the skin wraps from the Switch and the dock there was no damage to the logos or the plastic of the Switch & Dock.

This is great as i have so many ideas for cool skin designs for this new Nintendo Switch and it was a little disheartening reading other skin makers PSA about damage but after testing things are fine with the automotive grade wrap we are using for our Nintendo Switch Skins.

Before fully releasing we got some friends to also test out to make sure other consoles didn't have any issues and after hearing back from them all a week or so later we our fully confident that our skins / wraps will not damage the Nintendo Switch. 

We understand it's scary thinking a simple skin could damage your $499 game console but the PSA's out there do make it seem more scary than it is as not all skins / wrap will damage the Nintendo Switch but using a wrap that has some of the strongest adhesive & highest solvent levels that is mainly used for architectural purposes that is not removable seems like it will.

So no Not All Skins Damage the Nintendo Switch & the Switch is not made from low quality plastic or coatings that stops customization with skins but with anything if the wrong material is used for the purpose it could have adverse effects.

2021 Update | We have been making and selling Nintendo Switch skins since it was released in 2017 and to this day have had no reports of an damage. Thank you to everyone that trusted us, sent feedback and posted images or videos removing their KO Custom Creations Nintendo Switch skins and showing no issues or damage.

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