Earlier this week, the first unboxing video for the Nintendo Switch appeared online, weeks before the hybrid console is due to launch. Now, Nintendo has confirmed that some of the Nintendo Switch systems that have appeared in the wild were stolen from a US distributor partner.

In a statement to IGN, Nintendo said the people responsible have been fired and are currently being looked into by law enforcement groups.

Here is the full statement:

"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."

"Nintendo Switch will launch worldwide on March 3, 2017, and we look forward to everyone being able to discover the wonders of the new system for themselves at that time."

In other news, it was recently discovered that the Nintendo Switch may tie digital purchases to an account, not a specific piece of hardware, which sounds like very good news.

The Nintendo Switch launches on March 3, priced at $300. For more on the system, check out all of GameSpot's previous written coverage and videos here.