Nintendo has officially announced that its long-running Switch Game Voucher program will be coming to an end. Starting January 30, 2026, players will no longer be able to purchase new vouchers — although any that are already bought will remain usable for up to 12 months after purchase. While this may seem like just another quiet eShop update, it actually raises a bigger question: Is Nintendo quietly phasing out one of the few digital discount systems it had?
For those unfamiliar, the voucher program has been a fan-favorite way to score first-party Nintendo titles at a slight discount. For $99.98, players could buy a pair of digital vouchers and redeem them for two eligible games — essentially knocking off around $10 per title. And considering how rarely Nintendo discounts games like Zelda, Mario, or Metroid, this was one of the only consistent ways to save on big releases.
So why shut it down now? One possibility is timing. With rumors swirling around a Switch 2 launch expected in 2025 or 2026, this move might be Nintendo clearing the path for new pricing strategies, updated digital storefront policies, or even a totally new rewards system. While nothing has been officially announced, the fact that vouchers only work with original Switch titles — not next-gen exclusives — makes this feel more like a forward-looking decision than a random cut.
Until then, Nintendo has said it will continue updating the list of eligible games through 2026, meaning upcoming titles like Metroid Prime 4 or Pokémon Legends: Z-A will likely still be included. If you’re a fan of digital downloads and plan to pick up major first-party titles, now might be the time to stock up. Just remember — each voucher you buy expires exactly one year from the date of purchase, so don’t hoard more than you’ll realistically use.
Another layer to this is that Nintendo has already scaled back other reward systems, like the My Nintendo Gold Points program, which used to offer modest eShop discounts. With that gone and now the voucher program on the chopping block, many are wondering whether we’re entering a full-price-only era for Nintendo’s digital games — or if something new is quietly in development behind the scenes.
Whether this is a simple cleanup or the start of a bigger shift in Nintendo’s digital game economy, one thing is clear: the ability to get two premium Nintendo games for less than $100 is going away. And once it’s gone, fans might not see anything like it again — at least not for a while.
