Nintendo, it turns out, is not currently refunding purchases of the just-released Switch edition of Overwatch.
For the past day or so, it's been shared substantially online that Nintendo is offering special refunds. However, Reddit user "aroloki1" has outlined just why this isn't the case in the top comment on a highly-upvoted thread claiming that the refund deal is real.
First of all, the Tweet shared in in a ResetEra forum post responsible for promulgating this rumor included a screenshot of an anecdote posted by another Twitter user (because this is how news works in 2019) that a Nintendo employee told them about the unique exception to their rule during a phone conversation.
Aroloki1 points out that the exception to the rule mentioned by the employee not unique to Overwatch. It's actually just Nintendo company policy, allowing one, no-questions-asked refund per Switch user. In other words, there seems to be a one-time, Switch owner-wide exception to their rule, not a #BoycottBlizzard-specific exception.
Another element to the initial rumor, which turns out to be partially true but is still worth mentioning, is that Blizzard isn't promoting Overwatch, due to the heated discussions currently resulting from any Blizzard-related press or media. This is true in the U.S., and may have caused Overwatch for Switch, which otherwise would have been a pretty significant release to be promoted to a lesser extent than could have been expected of a game of its magnitude.
In their Reddit comment, aroloki1 also touches on the fact that Overwatch for Switch is being promoted a typical amount in other countries, including, for example, at EGX London, a major gaming convention currently taking place in the U.K.
So for those hoping to be refunded for an Overwatch on Switch purchase made prior to Blizzard banning Blitzchung from tournament play, know that it is possible, but not for the reasons being widely shared.
Source: reddit.com/u/aroloki1