Due to third-party sales disputes, Nintendo has removed Switch 2 from Amazon

According to Zhitong Finance APP, Nintendo has removed its products from Amazon's U.S. website due to disagreements over unauthorized sales, which means Amazon has missed the recent launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console—one of the largest console launch events in history.

According to informed sources, Nintendo stopped selling products through Amazon after discovering that third-party sellers were selling games in the U.S. at prices lower than Nintendo's official pricing. These sellers profited by bulk purchasing Nintendo products in Southeast Asia and re-exporting them to the U.S.

Last year, gaming media reported that Nintendo products began to disappear from Amazon's U.S. website. Previously, these items were labeled as "sold by Amazon," which typically indicates that the e-commerce platform procured them directly from the brand. Currently, some Nintendo products are still being sold by third-party sellers on Amazon.

Amazon had attempted to appease Nintendo by adding anti-counterfeiting labels, a technology that assures consumers of product authenticity and can also be used to track the flow of goods. However, informed sources stated that this solution did not meet requirements, and Nintendo ultimately decided to withdraw from the Amazon U.S. platform.

A Nintendo spokesperson denied any dispute in an email statement, stating, "We will not disclose details of negotiations or contracts with retailers." An Amazon spokesperson claimed that "reports about the relationship between the two parties are inaccurate," but did not provide specifics, only stating, "We are pleased to sell Nintendo products directly to consumers."

When the Switch 2 launches this month, U.S. retailers such as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and GameStop will have it available in physical stores. Although Amazon is still selling the console in overseas markets like Canada, Japan, and the UK, American consumers, who account for two-thirds of its total sales, will miss out on purchasing it, sparking heated discussions on social media. Nintendo is not the first brand to have friction with Amazon over third-party sales issues.

Major brands have long accused Amazon of inadequate oversight of independent sellers and rampant counterfeit goods, leading several brands to withdraw due to dissatisfaction with sales control over the past few years. Amazon has sought cooperation by suing counterfeiters, and after reaching an agreement with Apple in 2018, it prohibited third-party sales of refurbished Apple products. Nike has also recently signaled a renewed focus.

Recent developments indicate that Nintendo seems to have rebuilt a direct supply relationship with Amazon U.S., as the upcoming "Donkey Kong Country" has restored the "sold by Amazon" label. However, as of last Friday, the Switch 2 has still not been listed, and Amazon has not appeared on Nintendo's official U.S. retailer list.

The Switch 2 sold over 3.5 million units in its first four days, setting a new sales record for the company's consoles in eight years, with a target of reaching 15 million units sold by March next year. This hybrid console, which combines TV and portable modes, has sparked a global buying frenzy, with players from Tokyo to San Francisco waiting hours to purchase it