NintendoThe lawsuit against the US government is now on hold, and it is unclear when legal proceedings will resume. The case is one of several filed against the Trump administration in recent months over sweeping tariffs set to take effect in 2025, but now faces some uncertainty. How Nintendo's suit will end wasn't set in stone, and now even its timeline carries a big question mark.
On March 6, 2026, Nintendo filed a lawsuit against the US government to recover “with interest” any fees paid since February 2025. In the filing, Nintendo claimed that the levies imposed by the administration were illegal under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), so the company is being asked to make illegal payments to refund the money. Losses related to those costs. Many other companies in various industries have filed similar lawsuits, and while legal processes are always complex and difficult to predict, this is a notable step from the notorious gaming giant to take action against consumers. Now, though, there is a new complication to deal with.
Nintendo is cracking down on more Switch emulators
The latest push to protect Nintendo's intellectual property has seen many Switch emulators receive takedown notices from the gaming giant.
Nintendo's tariff lawsuit is automatically stayed
According to a court update obtained by GameFile, Nintendo's lawsuit has been automatically stayed, meaning stopped, due to the earlier ruling. In December 2025, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) stayed all assigned IEEPA tariff-related cases until the court could determine “appropriate next steps” to resolve these issues. Since then, the Supreme Court has ruled against Trump's IEEPA tariffs, but the question of how to manage potential refunds remains. It appears that the CIT may still lack firm answers to those questions, as Nintendo's lawsuit has been stayed under this previous order, and as such, it is uncertain when the case will resume.
The tariffs in question have led Nintendo to raise its prices for some Switch 2 accessories. However, the company kept the price of the console the same, which could mean it accepted a lower profit margin amid the tariffs, so its current lawsuit could help it recoup lost profits. Supply chain costs are only part of the picture. After the Trump administration imposed these import tariffs, both Nintendo and Sony's stock prices fell as investors worried about the impact of the tariffs on profits and US sales. Any stock market-related losses are unlikely to play a role in the court proceedings, as the case focuses on fees paid by Nintendo, but these broader implications give the company more reason to pursue legal action.
Nintendo has a well-earned reputation for being active on the court. The Japanese gaming giant has filed numerous lawsuits against emulators and accused imitators over the years, and in late 2025, Nintendo won the Wii patent case after 15 years of grueling legal proceedings. However, most of these lawsuits have all been against individuals or other companies, so the action against the US government is a notable break from its normal legal activity. There's no telling how the case will go after it resumes, like other IEEPA tariff refund cases, but it's an important moment in the gaming industry.
If the case goes Nintendo's way once it starts back up again, consumers won't get any relief. While winning the lawsuit certainly won't hurt the company's financial position, there are other economic factors at play that could still affect console and accessory prices. Earlier this year, Nintendo's president said that future Switch 2 price increases are possible if current memory shortages persist. Those price pressures, like ongoing lawsuits against the Trump administration, face a good deal of uncertainty ahead of them, so gamers will have to wait and see how things play out.
- brand
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Nintendo
- Original release date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- operating system
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Ownership
- resolve
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR support
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yes
Source: Game file
