Nintendo has announced that it will discontinue its Switch Game Vouchers scheme, a program that allowed subscribers to Nintendo Switch Online to purchase games at a discounted price. The company revealed in a detailed FAQ that the vouchers will no longer be available after January 30, 2026, giving fans just under six months to make any final purchases. The reason for ending the program hasn’t been explicitly stated, but it follows Nintendo’s decision not to allow the vouchers to be redeemed for Switch 2 games.
It also comes on the heels of the release of Mario Kart World, Nintendo’s first-ever $80 game.
Introduced in 2019, Switch Game Vouchers offered a cost-effective way to buy games, with a flat price for two games purchased within a 12-month period. In the UK, for example, the cost was £84, meaning buyers paid an average of £42 per game – an £8 discount from the typical £50 price tag for Switch 1 games. Some major titles, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, were also included in the offer, allowing players to save even more.
Although the vouchers never applied to Switch 2 games, players discovered they could use the vouchers to buy Switch 1 versions of games that had Switch 2 upgrades, offering a more affordable way to access cross-generational titles. For instance, players could purchase the Switch 1 version of Pokémon Legends: Z-A using the voucher for £50 and pay an additional £10 to upgrade to the Switch 2 version.
Despite the removal of this benefit, Nintendo has stated that additional games will be added to the voucher catalog through 2026. However, with the move toward shorter game development cycles to control costs, it remains unclear whether this will continue to be a feasible savings option for consumers.
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