Nintendo has launched a "Customer Appreciation Sale" that it says is partly funded by roughly $300 million in tariff refunds it received from the US government, rather than passing those refunds directly back to customers. The move has drawn criticism because it comes after Nintendo raised prices on the Switch and Switch 2 in the US, Canada and Europe, citing tariffs, and is currently facing a consumer lawsuit over its refusal to return tariff refunds to buyers who paid the higher prices.

The sale runs from midnight ET on 13 September until 26 September across the eShop, Nintendo Store and retailers, offering 30% discounts on digital games, bundles, DLC, physical games, Amiibo, accessories and other merchandise. Nintendo obtained the refunds after suing the US government following a Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration's global tariffs were illegal, and has argued in court filings that it is not legally obliged to reimburse consumers, since they "received exactly what they bargained and paid for." Rival companies Sony and Amazon face similar lawsuits, while smaller firm Panic chose to directly refund tariff costs to its Playdate console customers.