New Nintendo games sale live on Amazon, multiple Switch 1 and 2 games at lowest prices ever

TL;DR

A limited-time Nintendo games sale on Amazon has dropped The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to its lowest-ever retail price of $39.99, alongside deep discounts on both Switch 1 and Switch 2 titles. This matters because it signals aggressive pricing ahead of the Switch 2's first holiday season and may pressure other retailers to match.

What Happened

Nintendo Everything reported on Sunday, June 21, 2026, that a new Amazon sale has slashed prices on a wide selection of Nintendo Switch 1 and Switch 2 games to their lowest-ever recorded prices. The headline deal is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at $39.99, a 33% discount off its standard $59.99 MSRP — a price point never before seen for the 2023 blockbuster.

Key Facts

• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is now $39.99 on Amazon, its lowest price ever since launch in May 2023.
• The sale includes both Switch 1 and Switch 2 titles, spanning first-party Nintendo games and select third-party releases.
• The promotion is described as "limited time" by Nintendo Everything, though no specific end date was announced.
• Multiple Switch 2 games are included in the sale, marking one of the first major discounts on the console's software since its launch earlier in 2026.
• The sale is exclusive to Amazon as of the report, though competitors like Best Buy and Walmart may match prices.
• This sale comes three weeks before Prime Day 2026, suggesting it may be an early promotional wave.
• Tears of the Kingdom has sold over 20 million copies worldwide as of its last publicly reported figure, making it one of the best-selling Switch titles.

Breaking It Down

The centerpiece of this sale — Tears of the Kingdom at $39.99 — is not merely a good deal; it is a pricing anomaly. Since its release in May 2023, Nintendo has held the game at a steadfast $59.99 MSRP, with only occasional retailer-driven drops to $49.99 during Black Friday events. A $20 reduction to $39.99 represents a 33% cut, a level of discount Nintendo rarely permits on its flagship first-party titles. The last time a mainline Zelda game hit this price point was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild during select holiday sales in 2018, five years after its launch.

Tears of the Kingdom at $39.99 is a 33% discount — the deepest cut on a mainline Zelda game in over eight years.

This aggressive pricing likely reflects two converging pressures. First, Nintendo is entering the Switch 2's first holiday season, and the company needs to clear remaining Switch 1 inventory to make room for new-gen software. Second, Amazon is likely using this sale to drive Prime membership sign-ups ahead of Prime Day 2026, which typically occurs in mid-July. The timing — three weeks before Prime Day — is a classic play: offer deep discounts early to capture early spenders and build momentum.

The inclusion of Switch 2 games in the sale is equally telling. The Switch 2 launched in early 2026 to strong demand, but software attach rates often soften after the initial launch window. By discounting Switch 2 titles now, Nintendo and Amazon are attempting to boost software sales and encourage console adoption among price-sensitive buyers. This is a departure from Nintendo's historical strategy of holding first-party prices firm for 12–18 months post-launch.

What Comes Next

The immediate question is whether this sale will trigger a broader price war among retailers. Here are the specific developments to watch:

1. Prime Day 2026 (mid-July 2026): Expect even deeper discounts on Switch 1 titles, potentially including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Metroid Prime 4 at $29.99 or lower. Amazon will likely use Nintendo games as loss leaders to drive Prime subscriptions.

2. Best Buy and Walmart price matching: Within 48–72 hours of this report, both retailers are expected to match Amazon's prices on Tears of the Kingdom and other key titles. Historically, Best Buy's Price Match Guarantee triggers within 24 hours of a competitor's sale.

3. Nintendo's official response: Nintendo may issue a statement or adjust its Nintendo eShop pricing to match Amazon's physical discounts. The company has done this before during major retail events, most notably during Black Friday 2024.

4. Switch 2 permanent price cuts: If this sale drives significant volume, Nintendo may consider permanent MSRP reductions on select Switch 2 titles by Q4 2026, particularly for games that underperformed at launch.

The Bigger Picture

This sale sits at the intersection of two major trends: retailer-driven pricing wars and console generation transitions. As Amazon and Walmart compete for e-commerce dominance, exclusive game sales have become a key battleground. Amazon's ability to offer Tears of the Kingdom at $39.99 — a price Nintendo would likely never set itself — demonstrates the growing power of retailers to dictate software pricing, especially during transition periods.

The Switch 2 transition is the second trend. Nintendo is navigating one of the most delicate phases in its corporate history: keeping the Switch 1 installed base of over 140 million units engaged while driving adoption of the Switch 2, which has sold an estimated 25 million units in its first six months. Discounting Switch 1 games helps clear inventory and maintain goodwill among the massive existing user base, while discounting Switch 2 titles accelerates the transition. This dual strategy is unprecedented for Nintendo, which typically abandons previous-generation software pricing quickly.

Key Takeaways

• [Zelda at Record Low]: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at $39.99 on Amazon is the game's lowest price ever, a 33% discount off its standard $59.99 MSRP.
• [Prime Day Prelude]: The sale, hitting three weeks before Prime Day 2026, is likely an early promotional wave to drive Prime memberships and pre-Prime Day spending.
• [Switch 2 Discounts Included]: Multiple Switch 2 titles are part of the sale, signaling Nintendo's push to boost software attach rates during the console's first holiday season.
• [Price War Incoming]: Expect Best Buy and Walmart to match Amazon's prices within 48–72 hours, potentially triggering a broader discount cycle across the industry.