Over a year ago, people who had pre-orders for upcoming first-partyNintendo Switchgames throughAmazonhad their orders canceled and refunded without explanation. Amazon hasn’t sold first-party Switch games that released since then; however, 14 months later, it looks like whatever the problem was between the two parties has been resolved.
For the first time since Amazon started canceling pre-orders for games likePaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door- that’s how long this has been going on, that remake hadn’t even launched yet - first-partyNintendogames, including pre-orders, are available directly through Amazon. Most notably, it’s the appearance of Switch 2 pre-orders on Amazon for the first time that indicates whatever the problem was between Nintendo and Amazon, it’s now water under the bridge.
The biggest coup of all for Amazon is the arrival ofDonkey Kong Bananzainto its store. The Switch 2’s next big launch game will be here on July 25, 2025, and if you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet,you can now do so through Amazon. The Switch 2 editions ofSuper Mario Party JamboreeandKirby and the Forgotten Landare also up for pre-order on Amazon, both of which will be launching later this year.
Mario Party and Kirby’s Switch 2 upgrades are the beefier ones that will include more content than the others and will hence cost twice as much. $20 for the upgrades if you already own the games, and $80 for the Switch 2 versions if you don’t.
Nintendo And Amazon Are Friends Again
Maybe Not Friends, But They Appear To Be On Speaking Terms At Least
Whatever the issues have been between Nintendo and Amazon, even though pre-orders are starting to reappear, the problem might still not be entirely solved just yet. Games that didn’t make it to Amazon during the hiatus haven’t returned, includingMario Kart World. Switch 2 consoles are also still not available through Amazon in the US. While the Switch 2 seems to be doing just fine without Amazon sales in the US, Amazon is probably pretty upset that it wasn’t a part ofwhat appears to have been the biggest console launch of all time.
What exactly caused all this between Amazon and Nintendo has never been explained, and it might never be. One of the leading theories is that Nintendo believed Amazon to inadvertently be at fault for some of its games leaking before release day. Again, just a theory, for now, but Amazon’s shipping method meant Switch games were, in some cases, arriving before release day. If that was what caused issues between the two companies, it would be nice to know how they’ve moved past that, though we probably never will.
