Walmart Cancels Pre-Orders for Zelda Edition Nintendo Switch 2

Gamers who pre-ordered the new Legend of Zelda: 40th Anniversary Edition Nintendo Switch 2 from Walmart are reporting that their orders are being canceled. The frustrating news arrives just as the devices were set to begin shipping, making matters even worse for fans of Zelda and the Nintendo Switch 2.

For a lot of Nintendo fans, anticipation is higher than ever, as both the Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition and the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are on the verge of release. While Ocarina of Time fans have a little bit longer to wait, many gamers have taken the opportunity to pre-order the special edition version of the Nintendo Switch 2 to be ready to play the new remake. Unfortunately, it seems some of those fans are going to be empty-handed.

Gamers Report Nintendo Switch 2 Order Cancellations

Fans of Nintendo who pre-ordered the Zelda: 40th Anniversary Edition of the Nintendo Switch 2 from Walmart are taking their frustrations to social media after their orders were canceled. According to those affected, orders were placed well in advance through Walmart's pre-ordering system, and in some cases, the company even went so far as to charge the buyers and send estimated delivery notices. One fan explained that they were told to expect their order to arrive on October 29, the official release date for the system, only for it to be canceled entirely on October 27. Others have noted that even orders for accessories like the carrying case have also been canceled around the same time. No official explanation has been offered by Walmart at this time, and those who haven't had their orders canceled yet are anxious that they could be next.

Unfortunately for impacted Nintendo fans, getting a replacement unit might be impossible. Most retailers, including Walmart, are showing the special edition Nintendo Switch 2 as being sold out. Limited editions like these tend to be resold at much higher prices by third parties, so buying one from the aftermarket could be painful. The only other option is to try and find one at a retail store, but those are likely to be scooped up by fans and scalpers alike very quickly.

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Some gamers may recall that this isn't the first time that incidents like this have happened with Walmart, and in several cases, it's specifically happened with Nintendo products. For example, in 2024, pre-orders of Luigi's Mansion 2 HD were canceled by Walmart. The following year, pre-orders for the standard version of the Nintendo Switch 2 were also canceled by Walmart, due to a supposed payment error. In both cases, Walmart apologized for the issue by offering gift cards or discounts on future purchases. Anyone who has had their Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order canceled may want to reach out to Walmart's support team, as some have said they've received similar compensation upon complaint.

It's not clear why this keeps happening with Walmart, but players are understandably frustrated. A number of fans will now have to decide between scrambling to buy a standard Nintendo Switch 2 in order to play the Ocarina of Time remake when it launches on November 4, or to give up for the immediate future.