Nintendo seeks dismissal of consumer lawsuit concerning tariff refunds

Image credit: Kamil Switalski via Unsplash

Nintendo has filed for the dismissal of a lawsuit claiming the company did not transfer tariff reimbursements to its customers.

Two individuals accused Nintendo of increasing prices for its products while maneuvering for compensation related to US tariffs earlier this year.

They alleged it would be illegal if Nintendo didn't refund tariffs to consumers who purchased items between February 1, 2025, and February 24, 2026.

According to Game File, Nintendo contested the lawsuit, asserting buyers obtained precisely what they had agreed upon and purchased.

"Consumers who didn't want to accept the listed price had the choice to refrain from purchasing or look for alternatives," stated Nintendo's legal representatives.

"The plaintiffs argue unfairness in Nintendo's refusal to retroactively adjust prices because of tariff outcomes. Such commercial practices do not exist.

"A set price was established, and purchasers agreed if the price was just. Buyers of Nintendo's items got exactly what was agreed upon: a console, game, or accessory for an agreed amount."

The attorneys added: "The payment made by plaintiffs was for the products they intended and received; there's no entitlement to a rebate due to legal changes tied to tariffs."

The documents also stated Nintendo did not fully transfer tariff expenses to buyers even when hardware prices were increased.

"Nintendo didn't raise prices by the tariff amount per product nor applied a flat tariff surcharge," the lawyers indicated.

"Instead, selective and moderate price increases were made, and Nintendo absorbed tariff costs for some high-selling products in 2025, like the Nintendo Switch 2."

Before the June 2025 launch of the Switch 2, US pre-orders were postponed due to tariffs, though Nintendo assured that the $449.99 price tag was unaffected by US tariffs.

Nintendo later pursued a lawsuit against the US government, seeking a refund for the paid tariffs from the US Court of International Trade, with interest included.