Nintendo just shattered its famously stingy pricing strategy. The gaming giant announced it's slashing up to $30 off beloved Switch titles for Black Friday - a rare move from a company that typically keeps game prices locked at full retail for years. With deals spanning both digital and physical games, plus discounts on amiibo figures and Switch 2 accessories, this represents Nintendo's most aggressive holiday pricing in recent memory.
Nintendo just did something it almost never does - put its crown jewel games on sale. The company's Black Friday announcement represents a seismic shift for a brand that's historically kept game prices locked at $60 for years, sometimes decades.
The timing isn't coincidental. With the Switch 2 looming and holiday competition fierce, Nintendo is finally bending on its rigid pricing philosophy. According to the official announcement, shoppers can snag flagship titles like Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 3, and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for just $29.99 - a rare $30 discount that would've been unthinkable just years ago.
The sale strategy unfolds in carefully orchestrated waves. Digital deals kick off November 20th through Nintendo's Cyber Deals promotion, running until December 3rd. Physical game discounts follow on November 23rd across major retailers - a dual-channel approach that maximizes both online and brick-and-mortar reach during the critical shopping weekend.
What's particularly telling is the game selection. Princess Peach: Showtime!, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and Luigi's Mansion 3 will hit $39.99 ($20 off), while the deeper $30 cuts target older but still premium titles. This tiered pricing suggests Nintendo is testing different discount thresholds to see what moves inventory without completely undermining its premium brand positioning.
The Switch 2 factor looms large over these decisions. While no Switch 2-exclusive titles are discounted - they're barely available yet - three major games (Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Odyssey, and Splatoon 3) include free Switch 2 updates with purchase. These updates deliver smoother gameplay and higher resolutions on the newer hardware, essentially future-proofing these purchases.
Beyond games, Nintendo is expanding into accessories with unusual enthusiasm. Select amiibo figures from The Legend of Zelda series and Street Fighter 6 are getting price cuts, while Samsung microSD Express cards - specifically designed for Switch 2's enhanced storage needs - will drop $20 at Nintendo's New York and San Francisco stores starting November 30th.
