Nintendo Fans Are Running Out of Time to Purchase Game Vouchers
Nintendo Switch users have just under three weeks to purchase Game Vouchers to redeem on specific games, as the company reminded players that Game Vouchers can no longer be bought after January 30. However, any Game Vouchers purchased before the deadline are still valid for up to one year on select Nintendo Switch games.
In short, Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers allow users to save money on some first-party titles. Vouchers are priced at $100 per pair, and require an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to buy and use. By redeeming vouchers on two $60 Nintendo Switch titles, that effectively saves users $10 per game as compared to buying them at their usual prices. However, Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers do not work on Switch 2 games at all. That said, users can still use Game Vouchers on original Switch titles that have Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs, including Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and then buy the upgrade packs separately.
“We Do What Nintendon’t” After Fan Backlash to Official New Switch 2 Joy-Cons, DBrand Announces a “Fix”
Third-party accessory manufacturer DBrand has revealed its ‘fix’ to the new Joy-Con 2 colors, following fan criticism of Nintendo’s new controllers.
Nintendo Switch Users Are Running Out of Time To Buy Game Vouchers
While Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers can only be used on specific Nintendo eShop titles, users do not have much time to buy more. On Friday, January 9, Nintendo started sending out emails to users to remind them that Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers can no longer be purchased after Friday, January 30, at 11:59 PM Pacific. This reminder came months after Nintendo announced in July 2025 that the Game Voucher program was being retired. Although Game Vouchers cannot be used on Nintendo Switch 2 games, any existing vouchers can still be used within 12 months of purchase. Ergo, any Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers bought on January 30 before purchases are discontinued can still be redeemed through the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
That said, with the discontinuation of Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers, the list of eligible Switch titles that can be bought with them is not likely to change. Switch users should not expect upcoming titles like Pokemon‘s 10th game generation to be purchased with Game Vouchers at all. Without the Game Voucher program, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 users would be left without a reliable way of purchasing first-party Nintendo titles at a discount for the foreseeable future. Nintendo users should keep a sharp eye out for any discounts on physical or digital games moving forward.
The Death Game Vouchers Has Unfortunate Timing
The imminent demise of the Nintendo Switch Game Voucher program comes at a potentially bad time for Nintendo and its customers. With the ongoing DRAM crisis affecting the prices of various PC components, there is the looming possibility that the price of video game consoles will follow suit sometime in 2026. Although the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 has stayed at $449 since its June 2025 launch, the RAM shortage may cause Nintendo to increase the MSRP of its latest console. Nintendo previously increased the price of the original Switch console and some Switch 2 peripherals in response to the US government’s tariffs on various goods. Given that Nintendo had lackluster sales during the 2025 holiday shopping season, a price increase on the Switch 2 coupled with the retirement of Game Vouchers could shake consumer confidence. It remains to be seen if or when Nintendo will adjust the price of Switch 2 games and consoles in light of the ongoing RAM shortage, though the situation has no relief in sight.
In the meantime, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can still use features that are not available elsewhere, including the GameCube app on Switch 2 featuring titles like Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Luigi’s Mansion. As Nintendo adds more classic titles to its Switch Online repertoire, time will tell what surprises the gaming giant has planned to take away the sting that losing Game Vouchers will inevitably bring.