Nintendo just unveiled the Legend of Zelda special edition Nintendo Switch 2, during the brand’s 40th Anniversary Direct. With a release date set for October 29, pre-orders aren’t too far away. Us early buyers are all lamenting the fact those gorgeous dark green Joy-Con and that sparkly dock aren’t available separately, but those holding out for a special edition console will want to get their pre-order gameplan in order. While nobody’s jumped in just yet, it’s highly likely we’ll get an early order date in the near future and it pays to know where to shop first.
I’ve been tracking high profile pre-orders ever since the hectic days of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, I watched as Nintendo Switch 2 stock melted off the shelves just last year. In all that time, I’ve picked up a thing or two about who is likely to drop Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders first and the steps you should take to make sure your order goes through without a hitch.
Where will Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders land?
I’ve gone back in time to answer this question, back to when the handheld itself first launched. It’s not set in stone, but I’d recommend keeping a close eye on Walmart when those Legend of Zelda Switch 2 pre-orders do eventually land. It was the first retailer to go live with original Switch 2 early orders just after midnight on day one, followed shortly by Best Buy roughly half an hour later.
Walmart was the first US retailer to open original handheld pre-orders when the Switch 2 launched last year. That’s an indication that things move a little closer to midnight launch times here, so I’d stick it at the top of your bookmark list. View Deal
Best Buy might have been a little behind Walmart last year, but it was one of the fastest out the gate still. The store gives priority to those signed in (a free-tier membership is fine) so be sure to make an account and keep your information saved. View Deal
I would place Amazon behind Walmart and Amazon on my shopping hit-list, but only because last year the retailer fell out with Ninty. This place was barren when Switch 2 stock dropped, with availability only really appearing on release day. Things have improved since, I’ve seen a lot of Nintendo releases popping up here on day one and Amazon’s sheer warehouse sizes means it can accommodate a lot more stock than others. View Deal
Of course, Nintendo itself is going to be a front runner in many bookmark lists here. It’s typically harder to get yourself in line here, though. The Switch 2 was locked behind playtime quotas and membership lengths, and even then Nintendo operated on an invite-only system for the first few waves of stock.
We’re out of the woods with that original launch yes, but the special edition Zelda Switch 2 is likely to move fast still.
Nintendo has the benefit of guaranteeing supplies, but it can be tricky with its pre-order allocations. You’ll likely need to have an account here and be invited once consoles drop onto the shelves.View Deal
When will Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders be available?
The Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 launches on October 29, and Nintendo typically gives itself about six weeks of pre-order time. That puts my estimate at some time in the next couple of weeks, between September 17 and October 1, however nothing has been officially confirmed by the brand.
Is Ocarina of Time Remake included with the Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2?
The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake is not included with the special edition Nintendo Switch 2 console. That’s pretty typical for Nintendo, who rarely includes the game with its special releases.