When Nintendo Switch 2 preorders opened on April 24, some interested buyers undoubtedly found themselves searching Amazon, wondering why in the world the biggest online retailer in the US seemed to forget about a new Nintendo console. But the Switch 2’s absence from Amazon was an expected continuation of a story that has been unfolding over the past year. Amazon simply doesn’t carry first-party Nintendo products these days, which means you’ll only find third-party games and accessories for the upcoming console on Amazon’s storefront.
No Switch 2 preorders at Amazon? No surprise there.
If you regularly buy first-party Nintendo Switch games, the Switch 2’s absence on Amazon’s US storefront probably wasn’t too surprising. To be clear, this article is specifically about Amazon in the US. Amazon UK, for instance, still carries Nintendo products, including the Switch 2.
Last spring, Amazon “sold out” of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door preorders. But when the retailer never restocked the remastered version of the GameCube classic, it became clear something else was happening. From that point forward, Nintendo’s 2024 and 2025 Switch games weren’t listed on Amazon. The list of absences included numerous notable releases: Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Amazon also stopped restocking older Nintendo Switch exclusives that were previously available. You also can’t buy digital games, eShop gift cards, or Switch Online subscriptions from Amazon.
Amazon missed out on hardware releases, too: the Hyrule Edition Switch Lite, Black Friday 2024 console bundles, and this year’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch OLED console bundle. Switch Pro and Joy-Con Controller stock is depleted, and first-party gadgets like Nintendo Alarmo launched without receiving an Amazon listing.
At first, Amazon wasn’t the only major retailer to not offer first-party Nintendo games. Walmart’s online storefront experienced the same shift–though brick-and-mortar stores still stocked Nintendo games on launch day. Later in the year, Walmart started selling Nintendo exclusives online in the days leading up to a game’s launch. Everything with Walmart and Nintendo returned to normal this year, which is why the Switch 2 and all of its Nintendo-made games and accessories are available at Walmart.
Why did Amazon stop carrying first-party Nintendo products?
The short answer is: No one knows for sure, but Amazon almost certainly wants to sell Nintendo products. Neither Nintendo nor Amazon has offered a reason for the dissolution of their retail partnership, but we have a theory based on the fact that Amazon and Walmart were the only retailers impacted by Nintendo stock woes last year. Both retailers have a history of offering discounts on Nintendo games and accessories outside of official Nintendo sales. As in, Switch games were often discounted for long stretches of time, to the point that getting a $10 discount on a first-party game felt like the norm. Ever since Walmart’s Nintendo situation reversed course, most of the first-party game deals we see there are sold by third parties.
Today, you can find the aforementioned 2024 Nintendo games on Amazon, but they are third-party listings that pop up at launch. You’ll also find a wide selection of region-free Nintendo games on Woot, an Amazon-owned discount shop. Woot has made a habit of listing Nintendo’s games on launch day with $10 discounts. This practice didn’t start until after Amazon stopped selling Nintendo games, so read into that as you see fit. And we’ll have to wait and see if the trend continues when the Switch 2 launches on June 5.
Amazon will still carry licensed Nintendo products
The only Nintendo products you can’t find on Amazon–shipped and sold by the retailer–are consoles, games, and accessories published by Nintendo. Beyond the Switch 2 console and Mario Kart World console bundle, this includes accessories like the new Pro Controller, Joy-Con 2, official carrying cases, Switch 2 Camera, and Amiibo.
You will continue to see listings pop up for Switch 2-exclusive products, but only items published by other companies. For instance, Amazon listed Hori’s officially licensed Piranha Plant Switch 2 Camera this week (it’s currently sold out) and “exclusive” games like Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut (published by Sega).
This distinction is also why we continue to see new Lego Super Mario sets and Little Buddy plushies on Amazon. These sorts of products are created in collaboration with Nintendo, but they are not released by Nintendo. Amazon’s “missing” Nintendo products are strictly in the gaming category.
Editor’s Note: Since Amazon and Nintendo have not commented on the situation, we have no way of knowing when the retailer will sell first-party Nintendo hardware and games again. But as of April 25, we have no reason to believe things will change soon, especially since a year has passed since Amazon stopped carrying Nintendo first-party games.
Nintendo Switch 2 Games & Accessories at Amazon
We’re keeping a running list of Nintendo Switch 2 games and accessories sold by Amazon. So far, the game list is the most expansive, but we expect more accessories, officially licensed or not, to appear on Amazon in the coming weeks and after launch.
Thanks to backward compatibility, there are also many Switch 2-compatible accessories to be found on Amazon. You also might find a good deal on accessories that aren’t technically designed specifically for Switch 2, such as a microSD Express Card at Amazon or USB-C hub.
Nintendo Switch 2 Games at Amazon
Several of the Switch 2’s biggest third-party launch games are up for preorder at Amazon, including Cyberpunk 2077, Hitman: World of Assassination, and Yakuza 0. You can also preorder titles releasing this summer, including Madden NFL 26 and Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion.
Officially Licensed Switch 2 Accessories at Amazon
At this time, the only officially licensed Nintendo Switch 2 accessory we’ve seen at Amazon is the Piranha Plant Camera, but we expect more to be added soon.
Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Cases + Protectors at Amazon
You can get a jumpstart on your Switch 2 essentials by picking up a pack of tempered glass protectors from one of the most popular manufacturers on Amazon. Additionally, multiple unofficial Switch 2 carrying cases are available for cheap.
Nintendo Switch 2 Controllers at Amazon
The list of Switch 2-compatible controllers sold on Amazon is massive (hundreds, if not thousands), but we’re highlighting two especially notable options here. 8BitDo’s Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller for Switch released earlier this month. This terrific pro-style controller has four extra remappable buttons, adjustable trigger locks, TMR electromagnetic analog sticks (better than Hall Effect), three custom profiles, and varied internal customization options. It should work with Switch 2 via Bluetooth out of the box, and it’s also possible the included USB-C dongle will be compatible for 2.4GHz Wireless.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller has two remappable back buttons, but as you can see above, 8BitDo’s Ultimate 2 has a bunch of additional features. It also happens to be $15 cheaper at retail price, but Amazon is offering a 10% discount at the time of writing.
The other controller is an interesting pick for those who don’t like the form factor of Nintendo’s Joy-Con Controllers. GameSir’s G8 Plus is a Bluetooth controller that cradles the Nintendo Switch or iOS/Android devices with screen sizes of up to 8.5 inches. The Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch screen, so there’s no reason why this pro-style controller shouldn’t be compatible with Nintendo’s new console.
microSD Express Cards at Amazon
Amazon has yet to list Samsung’s officially licensed 256GB microSD Express Card, but you can find options from SanDisk and Lexar on Amazon. The Switch 2 only supports the Express format, which are high-performing and pricey. Plus, this is a new technology, so there are very few options available today. Amazon tends to be one of the best retailers for deals on storage devices, but microSD Express Cards at Amazon have yet to receive meaningful discounts.
Nintendo Switch 2 Games & Accessories not at Amazon
Here’s a quick look at the Nintendo Switch 2 first-party games and accessories you won’t find on Amazon.
Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories (first-party)
Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusives (first-party games)
