Nintendo of America has announced a “Customer Appreciation Sale,” offering 30% off games and access, with Nintendo specifically citing its tariff refunds as the reason why it’s running the sale, at least in part.
“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,” the company said.
Nintendo, like Sony and Microsoft, got money back from the US government related to tariffs, which were implemented by US President Donald Trump and later deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. All three companies argued in court that they should keep the money and give nothing back because that’s just how capitalism works.
The Customer Appreciation Sale runs September 13-26 on the Nintendo eShop, Nintendo Store, and select retailers. Items on sale vary by retailer, but shoppers can expect discounts on digital and physical games, DLC, accessories, Amiibo, and apparel.
Not every gaming company is taking such a hard line on this topic. Panic, the company behind the Playdate gaming handheld, said it will pass its own refunds on to customers who paid more. People should get about $12 back.
“It’s just not our money to keep, and it felt really good to give it back,” Panic’s Cabel Sasser told Game Developer. “That’s an easy way to know you made the right decision.”
Many companies received major tariff refunds, and they are handling refunds differently. For example, Wamart and Home Depot have said they will use the cash infusion to lower prices on a variety of products, but not directly refund anyone..
“At the end of the day, a product is worth what somebody’s willing to pay for it, and there is a lot of choice in this marketplace,” Bryan Eshelman, a managing director at consulting firm AlixPartners, told CNBC.
As for Nintendo, it’s been a busy week, as the company held two Nintendo Directs this week. For more, check out GameSpot’s rundown of all the big news from the Zelda Direct and the general Nintendo Direct.