While gamers rushed to grab Nintendo’s latest console sensation, Amazon found itself empty-handed. The retail giant‘s absence from the Nintendo Switch 2 launch wasn’t accidental—it was the explosive finale to a heated dispute over pricing and unauthorized sales. Nintendo pulled the plug when Amazon couldn’t (or wouldn’t) address concerns about cheap Asian imports undercutting official US prices.
The pricing showdown began when scalpers flooded Amazon’s marketplace with imported Switch 2 consoles and games. These imports, sometimes $30 cheaper than official US versions, created a pricing nightmare. Take Donkey Kong Bananza for Switch 2—available through Asian imports below Nintendo’s $69.99 US price tag. Nintendo wasn’t having it.
Amazon’s halfhearted fixes, like labeling official products, didn’t cut it. Nintendo rejected Amazon’s proposal regarding authenticity guarantees and labeling, further straining the already tense relationship. Nintendo warned them. Amazon shrugged. Nintendo walked. Simple as that.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Amazon. Switch 2 became Nintendo’s fastest-selling console ever, moving 3.5 million units worldwide in just four days. The console’s hybrid design features allow for seamless transitions between handheld, tablet, and docked modes, maintaining the versatility that made the original Switch so popular. Amazon missed the entire party. Their loss? Millions in potential hardware and software sales.
Regional pricing differences fueled the fire. The console costs about $340 in Japan versus higher US prices. Naturally, resellers jumped on this arbitrage opportunity like sharks on chum.
This isn’t the first Nintendo-Amazon rodeo. Their relationship has been rocky since 3DS disputes years back. But this standoff hits different. Amazon lost the biggest console launch in Nintendo history.
Meanwhile, Nintendo’s other retail partners and eShop picked up the slack. The Switch 2’s technical improvements and social features drew massive crowds—just not to Amazon’s website.
No official word on when (or if) the Switch 2 will appear on Amazon US. The retail giant’s marketplace model continues proving problematic for companies like Nintendo that care about pricing integrity. For now, gamers looking for a Switch 2 will have to shop elsewhere. Amazon’s loss, everyone else’s gain.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Switch_2
- https://www.gamesradar.com/hardware/amazons-missing-out-on-that-sweet-switch-2-money-because-nintendos-mad-about-unauthorized-sales-new-report-suggests/
- https://www.gamesradar.com/upcoming-switch-2-games/
- https://www.notebookcheck.net/Nintendo-Switch-2-launch-on-Amazon-fell-apart-over-pricing-of-cheap-imports.1047938.0.html
- https://www.nintendo.com/my/switch2/index.html
