Nintendo faced a class-action lawsuit in April 2026 in the US after raising prices on some hardware in response to 2025 tariffs, but the company insists it owes no refunds to consumers. The lawsuit was filed by two customers seeking reimbursement for the tariff-related price hikes on products like the original Switch console and Switch 2 accessories, which saw increases of $30-$50 and $5-$10 respectively [1, 2, 3].
In 2025, Nintendo selectively raised prices on certain Switch hardware and Switch 2 accessories due to US-imposed tariffs, but absorbed tariff costs on popular products such as the Switch 2 console, which retained its $449.99 launch price despite tariffs [1, 2]. Following a US Supreme Court ruling that declared these tariffs illegal, Nintendo sued the US government in March 2026 seeking refunds of tariffs it had paid [1, 2].
The plaintiffs’ class-action alleges Nintendo acted unfairly by raising prices for tariffs while failing to disclose its intention to seek tariff refunds and ultimately retaining those refunds despite passing costs onto consumers [3]. The complaint states Nintendo engaged in unjust enrichment by doing so [3].
Nintendo responded by filing a motion to dismiss the class-action suit in July 2026, arguing it has no legal obligation to refund the customers [3]. The company said plaintiffs are not entitled to rebates merely because of "intervening legal developments related to tariffs" and emphasized that buyers "received exactly what they bargained and paid for" [1, 2]. Nintendo added that "the doctrine of unjust enrichment does not apply when a party voluntarily pays a purchase price and receives a product in return" [3].
Nintendo’s pricing strategy was not uniform, as it absorbed tariff costs on the Switch 2 console while raising prices on less popular accessories and older models [1, 2]. The legal proceedings are ongoing, with the court expected to rule on Nintendo’s motion to dismiss the consumer refund suit in the coming months.
