Nintendo Announces 30% Off Switch Sale After $300 Million Tariff Refund

Nintendo isn't exactly famous for their sales, which is why it's always a moment for celebration among fans when they offer one. And, in this case, while there is more to the story, the sale that's just been announced has been framed as a "Customer Appreciation Sale."

From September 12–September 26, massive discounts will be available for dozens of digital games, as well as select physical games, DLC, accessories, amiibo, and apparel. And, while it's nice to think Nintendo is doing this out of its love, the real motivating factor is tariffs.

Nintendo Announces One of its Biggest Sales Ever

Beginning on September 12, exclusively for gamers in the United States, Nintendo will kick off what they themselves describe as "one of our largest promotions ever." This sale, which is inclusive of nearly every type of product fans could hope for, will last until September 26, with the highlight being a 30% discount on dozens of Nintendo Switch games.

The sale will be accessible via Nintendo Store and Nintendo eShop, but select retailers will also be participating. The exact list of games included as part of the "Customer Appreciation Sale" has not yet been revealed.

As for where the sale is coming from, the source is something many have become more familiar with in recent years: tariffs. In 2025, the tariffs put into place by President Donald Trump resulted in every major console manufacturer being forced to raise the cost of their hardware.

The Switch Lite became $30 more expensive, the Switch had its price raised by $40, and the Switch OLED became $50 more expensive. Earlier this month, the Switch 2 was also made $50 more costly.

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In July, two gamers sued Nintendo, claiming that any money they recouped from tariff refunds belonged to the customers. Nintendo understandably asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, stating that gamers “received exactly what they bargained and paid for" when purchasing a Nintendo Switch after the price hike.

“Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying,” Nintendo’s filing said. “Those who bought Nintendo’s products received exactly what they bargained and paid for – a console, game and/or accessory at a price to which both parties agreed.”

The "Customer Appreciation Sale" comes at a time when Nintendo certainly could use some good PR and, in a move that should hopefully please fans, the new promotion is being made possible by the tariff refunds Nintendo received. These refunds came after Nintendo, alongside over 1,000 other companies, sued the United States government for illegal implementation of trade tariffs, netting them $300 Million.

“The Customer Appreciation Sale is our way of saying thank you to Nintendo players for their continued support and is made possible in part by tariff-related refunds. While Nintendo absorbed most tariff-related costs, the refunds helped make promotions like this one possible.”

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