Nintendo stopped selling its popular DS handheld to Amazon years ago after the retail giant asked for special treatment that could have broken the law. Former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé revealed the story during a recent lecture at NYU.
This explains why you couldn’t find Nintendo games on Amazon for years. Most people assumed it was just a business disagreement, but it turns out Amazon wanted deals that would have hurt Nintendo’s relationships with other stores like GameStop and Best Buy.
When Big Tech Meets Bigger Lawyers
Fils-Aimé didn’t specify exactly what Amazon requested, but he made it clear that giving Amazon preferential treatment would have violated laws around fair competition. Nintendo chose to walk away from one of the world’s biggest online retailers rather than risk legal trouble.
The timing was crucial – this happened during the DS era when Nintendo’s handheld was flying off shelves. Walking away from Amazon’s massive customer base took serious conviction. Nintendo likely worried that special Amazon deals could trigger lawsuits from other retailers or attract unwanted attention from regulators.
What Changed
The two companies eventually worked things out. You can buy Nintendo Switch games on Amazon today, suggesting they found a middle ground that keeps everyone happy and legal. Nintendo’s willingness to say no to Amazon shows how seriously game companies take their retailer relationships – and how even tech giants sometimes ask for too much.
