Nintendo Ends Switch Game Vouchers, Affects User Savings

Nintendo has announced it will discontinue its Switch Game Vouchers program, which currently provides Nintendo Switch Online subscribers with discounted access to Switch 1 games.

In a detailed FAQ published today, the company confirmed that the Switch Game Vouchers will be discontinued starting January 30, 2026—giving interested users a six-month window to make final purchases.

Though no official reason was provided for ending the program, the move comes after Nintendo decided not to allow voucher redemption for Switch 2 titles. It also follows the release of Nintendo’s first $80 game, Mario Kart World.

Originally launched in 2019, the Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers offer a fixed price for two Nintendo Switch games purchased within a 12-month period. In the UK, the bundle costs £84, averaging £42 per game.

This typically results in an £8 saving compared to the standard £50 retail price—and even greater discounts for premium titles priced at £60, such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

While Nintendo has excluded Switch 2 titles from the voucher program, players have discovered that vouchers can still be used to purchase original Switch 1 versions of games that offer paid upgrades to their Switch 2 editions—including Zelda: Breath of the Wild—providing a more affordable way to access those titles.

For example, Switch 2 owners can currently buy a pair of vouchers and redeem them for cross-generational releases like Metroid Prime: Beyond or the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A, scheduled for October. Z-A is priced at £50 for the Switch 1 version and £60 for the Switch 2 edition. By purchasing the Switch 1 version with a voucher, players save £8 before paying a £10 upgrade fee to access the enhanced Switch 2 edition.

Switch Game Vouchers must still be redeemed within 12 months of purchase. However, Nintendo has confirmed that additional Switch titles will continue to be added to the voucher catalog throughout 2026.

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa recently indicated that the company is exploring shorter development cycles for certain projects to help control costs and avoid excessively high game prices.