Nintendo and Amazon Add New Approval Label for Switch 2

Nintendo and Amazon introduce a new “Nintendo Approved” label designed to help shoppers identify legitimate products and trusted sellers.

Nintendo and Amazon appear to be taking another step to improve how Nintendo products are offered on the vast online marketplace. Certain Nintendo items on Amazon now carry a “Nintendo Approved” logo, giving shoppers another way to tell whether the item is sold by Nintendo itself or a seller the company trusts.

That move is particularly remarkable given Nintendo and Amazon's difficult history. We've seen Nintendo products vanish from Amazon listings before, but with little explanation, leaving shoppers wondering why. Things got even more confusing when former Nintendo of America CEO Reggie Fils-Aimé said that Amazon had pushed Nintendo into a pricing scheme that he thought was illegal.

The issue is said to be part of the reason Nintendo is pulling back from its connection with the retailer.

But gradually the two corporations seemed to make up. Nintendo products are back on Amazon, and the two firms have been working closer together to deliver a more trustworthy buying experience for customers. The new adjustment focuses on third-party Nintendo games. Nintendo offers products directly through the Nintendo storefront on Amazon, but many independent sellers also list items on the site. 

Some merchants have been accused of shady methods in the past, raising concerns about whether customers are getting the real deal. The new Nintendo Approved label aims to alleviate some of those issues. According to Go Nintendo, the label shows up in the brand section while you're shopping and checking out on Amazon. Products marked with this distinction are sold either directly by Nintendo or by a merchant certified by Nintendo.

Keep in mind that the absence of the label doesn't necessarily mean a product is counterfeit or that customers are being duped. Instead, the label provides an extra layer of authentication, giving customers a way to find products that Nintendo and Amazon have a little more faith in. The approach may also help buyers who come across Nintendo products that are particularly costly.

When things are hard to find, or we're scarce, third-party Amazon merchants might occasionally jack prices dramatically.

That's not unique to Nintendo, as major retailers often have third-party marketplaces with independent sellers who can set their own prices. But the Nintendo Approved label could help shoppers tell the difference between legitimate listings and dealers who may be charging inflated pricing. Ultimately, the new label could signal that Nintendo and Amazon have moved past their once-troubled relationship.

Amazon may help shoppers find more information about products supported by Nintendo or certified sellers, and help Nintendo feel more confident about how its products are represented on the marketplace. For Switch 2 users and Nintendo fans shopping on Amazon, looking for the Nintendo Approved logo might become a handy habit, especially when buying expensive hardware, games, accessories, or other Nintendo products.