Zelda Switch 2 console: Walmart cancels pre-orders as restocks land on November 6
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Walmart canceled some Zelda Switch 2 pre-orders one day before the console's October 29 launch, saying orders were "out of stock."
- Walmart and Target both plan online restocks on November 6, according to retailer listings tracked by The Shortcut.
- Nintendo says it "underestimated" demand and is working on more stock, with no exact date given.
Nintendo's special Zelda edition Switch 2 arrived on October 29. It sold out almost at once. Now some buyers who pre-ordered through Walmart have had their orders canceled.
The cancellations arrived by email on October 28. That was one day before the consoles were meant to arrive, according to Kotaku. The message told buyers their delivery order was "out of stock."
What happened
Pre-orders usually work in a simple way. A retailer holds a set number of units. Buyers pay early to reserve one.
The whole point is that the unit is set aside for them.
Walmart appears to have sold more pre-orders than it had stock. Buyers who called customer service said there "literally isn't a console in stock," reported Kotaku. The retailer oversold its allocation.
This is not new behavior for the store. Past buyers said in Reddit threads that Walmart has canceled pre-orders for other items before. Still, shoppers were angry.
One buyer called it "unethical sales practice" on Reddit, quoted by Kotaku. The buyer said Walmart should not take pre-orders for more units than it can ship.
Adding to the anger, the console still appears on Walmart's site. Some listings show it at $700. That is nearly $200 more than the $519.99 launch price. Kotaku said this may be a third-party seller using Walmart's platform to scalp the device.
The $519.99 console everyone wants
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 is a limited console. It celebrates 40 years of the Zelda series in 2026. The price is $519.99, only $20 more than the base Switch 2, according to GameRant.
The design is the big draw. The dock uses a black and gold color scheme. It carries the franchise's iconic Triforce logo on the front.
The Joy-Con 2 controllers come in green, black, and gold.
The console does not include a copy of the game. The remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives separately on November 5. That remake rebuilds the 1998 Nintendo 64 classic with modern graphics and gameplay changes.
Why it matters
The Zelda edition sold out almost the moment pre-orders opened. The rush crashed queues and emptied stock everywhere.
Nintendo knew demand was high. It did not know how high.
Bill van Zyll is Nintendo's vice president and general manager for Latin America. He spoke to the YouTube channel Coelho no Japão.
"We underestimated how well it would be received," he said, as reported by GameRant. "It's a global phenomenon."
The demand was worst in North America. US fans rushed for the physical console and matching accessories. Scalpers moved in at once.
That is why the $700 Walmart listings sting. Buyers feel squeezed from both sides.
There is also a timing crunch. The console launched October 29. The Ocarina of Time remake lands November 5. Fans wanted the special console in hand before the game arrived. Some will not get it in time.
What happens next
Walmart and Target are planning online restocks on November 6. The Shortcut found the dates in retailer listings. A Walmart employee note points to a supply chain delay as the cause.
Walmart's own note blames a supply chain delay. It says some stores may not get the console in time for the October 29 launch. The sales block stays in place through at least Friday, November 6, according to The Shortcut.
As new stock arrives, Walmart will fill orders by pre-order priority. In other words, the earliest orders get filled first.
Some shoppers did grab consoles from Walmart on launch day. The Shortcut said some people got one after 8:00 AM local time.
Target is moving on a similar plan. It will take orders in stores starting November 5. Online orders open November 6.
Best Buy, Nintendo, and GameStop are holding in-store events around the same window, per The Shortcut. Best Buy hosted a midnight launch for the Ocarina of Time remake. Some of its stores had consoles to sell on November 5.
Nintendo itself has promised more stock. After the first sellout, it updated its store page. The page told fans to check back soon.
Van Zyll repeated the promise in his interview. Nintendo is "working on replenishments," he said. But he gave no dates and no numbers.
So what should you do if you want one? Watch official Nintendo channels and major retailers directly. Set up stock alerts for November 6.
Check stores on November 5. Do not pay scalper prices near $700 before checking. More consoles are coming at the $519.99 price.
If you missed launch day
This is not the first time a limited edition hardware drop has sold out in hours. Limited editions always draw scalpers. The smart move is patience plus alerts.
Retailers often release stock in waves. A small batch went out on October 29. A bigger wave is expected around November 6. November is also packed with new game releases, so stores are adding stock anyway.
If your Walmart pre-order was canceled, you are not alone. The cancellation wave hit many buyers at once. Your best path now is the November 6 restock.
Put an alert on your phone. Check at opening time. And buy at the real price, not the scalper markup.
The Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition is a collectible. But it is not one of a kind. Nintendo says it will make more, though no one knows how fast.
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