Nintendo launches major sale with help from tariff refunds

Anthony ThompsonUSA TODAY
Sept. 11, 2026, 5:06 p.m. ET

Nintendo is giving players a chance to save on games, accessories and other products in what the company described as one of its largest promotions ever.

The Customer Appreciation Sale will offer 30% off dozens of Nintendo Switch digital games and bundles, and discounts on select physical games, downloadable content, accessories and apparel.

The sale runs Sept. 12-26 across the Nintendo eShop, Nintendo Store and participating retailers, Nintendo of America said in a news release.

Here’s more on Nintendo’s major promotion.

Why is Nintendo offering the sale?

Nintendo’s announcement came with an unusual explanation for how it could offer the substantial discounts: “tariff-related refunds.”

“While Nintendo absorbed most tariff-related costs, the refunds helped make promotions like this one possible,” the company said in its release.

The announcement follows months of Nintendo facing legal questions over what should happen to money returned to companies after certain tariffs were found to be unlawful, CBS reported.

In a July court filing, Nintendo argued that consumers were not entitled to refunds for products they purchased at prices advertised at the time. The company said customers received “exactly what they bargained and paid for” and that later changes to tariff policy did not create an obligation to lower those prices retroactively.

USA TODAY contacted Nintendo for additional comment on Sept. 11, but has not received a response.

How did tariffs affect Nintendo’s prices?

Nintendo raised prices on several Switch products after tariffs went into effect in 2025, citing “market conditions.”

The original Nintendo Switch increased by $40 to $339.99, while the Switch Lite rose by $30 to $229.99. The Switch OLED increased by $50 to $399.99, CBS reported.

Nintendo also <a href="https://comicvibe.com/wwes-triple-h-rob-fee-announced-as-contributors-to-upcoming-marvel-comics-milestone/” title=”WWE's Triple H, Rob Fee Announced As Contributors To Upcoming Marvel Comics Milestone”>announced in May that the Switch 2 would increase from $449.99 to $499.99, beginning Sept. 1, again citing changes in market conditions.

Nintendo previously said its pricing decisions took into account multiple costs, including memory, labor and shipping and tariffs. The company has also maintained that it absorbed most tariff-related costs on the Switch 2 rather than passing all of them directly to consumers, IGN reported.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT.