Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Out Today, Sold Out

 

The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Nintendo Switch 2. Image: Nintendo via Creative Bloq

Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 launched today, October 29, 2026. If you did not already have one secured, the launch-day story is already a sold-out story: the themed console costs $519.99 in the US, comes with no game in the box, and is sold out on Nintendo's own store on day one. The messy part is that some buyers who did everything right still ended up empty-handed, after Walmart canceled a wave of pre-orders the day before launch.

Key Takeaways

• The Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 is out today, October 29, 2026, priced at $519.99 in the US.
• It is hardware only — no Zelda game is included in the box.
• It sold out on Nintendo's store at launch, and Walmart canceled a wave of pre-orders on October 28, citing out of stock.
• Matching accessories launched the same day: Pro Controller $99.99 ($109.99 for the Nintendo Store version with a display stand), carrying case $39.99.
• The next confirmed chance is a Best Buy midnight event on November 5 at select US stores, with limited quantities.

What is in the box?

The box holds the themed Switch 2 console itself: Zelda-inspired patterns on the back of the system, green and gold Joy-Con 2 controllers with a grip and two straps, and a black and gold dock with a Triforce on the front. An AC adapter, a USB-C cable and an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable are included. No game is included, and there is no download code for one either.

Nintendo revealed the edition at its September 8 Direct, positioning it as the hardware celebration of Zelda's 40th anniversary. The Triforce motif runs across the system, the dock and the Joy-Con 2 controllers, which is the whole point of the edition: the same Switch 2 hardware, dressed as a Hyrule relic. Everything else about the console, from its screen to its performance, is unchanged from the standard model.

How much does the Zelda Switch 2 cost, and is it worth it over the standard console?

The Zelda-themed Switch 2 console. Image: Alza

The Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition costs $519.99 in the United States, which is $20 more than the standard Switch 2's current $499.99 price. That standard price itself rose from $449.99 on September 1, 2026, so the anniversary premium sits on top of an already higher base price. In Japan, the edition costs ¥62,980 including tax.

Whether the premium is worth it comes down to one honest fact: you are paying for the design only. The hardware inside is the same Switch 2, and no game comes with it, so the extra $20 buys the look, not performance and not software. If you want the Zelda design on your shelf, that is the price. If you just want to play Switch 2 games, the standard console does exactly the same thing for less, and the money saved covers a large part of a game. For collectors and Zelda fans, special editions like this have historically held their appeal; the Tears of the Kingdom Switch OLED from 2023 sold out within weeks and rarely appears at its original price now.

Why is it sold out already?

Demand beat supply on day one, and pre-order allocations turned out shakier than buyers expected. Nintendo's own store sold out, and Walmart canceled a wave of pre-orders on October 28, the day before launch, telling customers the item was out of stock. Buyers who contacted support say they were told Walmart oversold its pre-order allocation, and some report being offered $10 in store credit. Walmart has not made a public statement about the cancellations, and affected customers are not being charged.

Nintendo has acknowledged that it underestimated demand for the anniversary hardware and has said additional stock is planned, but it has not provided a schedule or confirmed quantities for individual retailers. That leaves the launch-day picture uneven: some pre-orders are being fulfilled, some were canceled outright, and third-party listings on Walmart's marketplace have appeared at around $700, well above the $519.99 retail price. Paying a large markup to a third-party seller for a console that Nintendo says will be restocked is a poor trade, especially when the listing is not the retailer itself.

Where can you still get a Zelda Switch 2?

The Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2. Image: Play-Asia

The next confirmed chance is Best Buy's midnight event on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at select US stores, with limited quantities of the Zelda 40th Anniversary console and the matching Pro Controller. Treat it as a local, in-store opportunity rather than a nationwide restock: only participating stores are included, online checkout has not been confirmed for the event, and arriving does not guarantee a unit. Check the product page and your chosen store's listing immediately before traveling.

Beyond that, Nintendo's own product page stays live and shows current stock even while sold out, which makes it the most reliable place to watch for a restock. One unconfirmed report, based on an unverified internal notice shared on Reddit, suggests Walmart may hold a sales restriction at some locations through November 6 because of supply delays, with pre-orders fulfilled in queue order as stock arrives. That report is unconfirmed and should not be treated as a promise, but it fits the broader pattern: this edition will come back in waves, not in one big restock.

What about the Ocarina of Time remake?

The timing is deliberate. The anniversary console lands exactly one week before The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launches on November 5 for Switch 2, and the two are designed to be bought together — but they are separate purchases. The console does not include the remake, which is reportedly priced at $59.99 digital and $69.99 physical in the US. If you are planning around both, the Best Buy November 5 event lines up with the remake's launch day, which is presumably the point. Nintendo's November Switch 2 lineup is already stacked, and the anniversary hardware is the centerpiece of it.

FAQ

Does the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 include a Zelda game?
No. It is hardware only, with no game or download code in the box.

How much does it cost?
$519.99 in the US and ¥62,980 including tax in Japan, a $20 premium over the standard Switch 2.

Is it different hardware from the standard Switch 2?
No. The internals are the same; only the Zelda-themed design on the console, dock and Joy-Con 2 is different.

When is the next chance to buy one?
Best Buy's midnight event on November 5 at select US stores, with limited quantities. Nintendo says more stock is planned but has not dated it.

For more Nintendo coverage, see our Switch 2 November 2026 games roundup, Minecraft's Switch 2 Edition launch, and our Nintendo Indie World October 2026 recap.

Images: Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition product images via Creative Bloq, Alza and Play-Asia.