Nintendo's new discount sale partly funded by US tariff refunds, not returned to customers
Nintendo is holding a major discount sale from September 13-26, which it says was made possible partly by $300 million in tariff refunds from the US government rather than passing that money back to customers.
Nintendo is launching what it calls one of its largest promotions ever, the Customer Appreciation Sale, running from midnight ET on September 13 through September 26 across the eShop, the Nintendo Store and retailers.
The sale offers 30 percent discounts on dozens of digital games and bundles, along with DLC, physical games, Amiibo figures, accessories and other merchandise.
Tariff refunds cited as enabler
Nintendo described the sale as a thank-you to players for their continued support, stating it was made possible in part by tariff-related refunds. The company said it absorbed most tariff-related costs itself, and that the refunds it received helped enable promotions like this one.
Just last week, Nintendo raised Switch 2 prices in the US, Canada and Europe, citing changing market conditions. It had similarly increased prices on the Switch and other products in August 2025 following tariffs imposed on US imports.
Earlier this year, Nintendo sued the US government seeking to recover tariff payments after the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration's global tariffs were illegal. In an earnings report last month, the company said it had received around $300 million in tariff refunds, adding that the tariffs behind those refunds were mostly borne by the company rather than passed on through product prices.
Like Sony, PlayStation's parent company, and Amazon, Nintendo is now facing a consumer lawsuit over its decision not to pass tariff refunds along to buyers. In a motion to dismiss filed in July, Nintendo argued it has no legal obligation to return those refunds, contending that customers received exactly what they paid for when they bought its products at the higher, tariff-adjusted prices.
