Nintendo Moves to Dismiss Class Action Over Tariff Refunds

Nintendo filed a motion in a Washington federal court asking that the proposed class-action suit—filed this spring by gamers alleging the company should pass on U.S. tariff refunds—be dismissed. The plaintiffs seek relief for any U.S. consumer who purchased Nintendo hardware or accessories between February 1, 2025 and February 24, 2026 at prices that were increased after the imposition of sweeping U.S. tariffs.

Nintendo says it has no legal duty to pass its U.S. tariff refunds on to consumers Nintendo files motion to dismiss consumer lawsuit over tariff refunds Forbes

In February of the previous year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs imposed on a broad range of imports were unlawful. Nintendo responded by suing the U.S. government for a refund of the duties it had paid, plus interest. During 2025 the company raised the list price of its Switch 2 console, Switch 2 controllers, and the original Switch, citing “market conditions” that included the tariffs, memory-chip costs, labor and shipping. The price hikes were applied selectively rather than as a uniform surcharge equal to the tariff amount.

Nintendo files motion to dismiss consumer lawsuit over tariff refunds ForbesNintendo says it has no legal duty to pass its U.S. tariff refunds on to consumers

They contend that the price adjustments were modest and that Nintendo absorbed the tariff expense on many of its flagship items, including the Switch 2. The filing states that a buyer who disagreed with the advertised price was free to forego the purchase or seek alternatives, and therefore no legal obligation exists to provide a retroactive rebate based on later legal developments.

Nintendo files motion to dismiss consumer lawsuit over tariff refunds

Following the filing, Nintendo’s shares fell about 4 % in Tokyo-based trading. Analysts note that if the lawsuit were to succeed, Nintendo could face pressure to issue refunds to a large U.S. consumer base, potentially affecting profit margins and setting a precedent for other firms that have sued the government for tariff reimbursements.

Forbes

Nintendo’s legal team reiterated that the company’s pricing decisions complied with standard commercial practice and that the plaintiffs’ claim of “unfairness” does not align with how transactions are normally handled. The plaintiffs’ counsel maintains that the company is “double-dipping” by keeping tariff-related profits while also seeking a government refund. No court ruling on the motion has been issued at the time of reporting.

Nintendo says it has no legal duty to pass its U.S. tariff refunds on to consumers