Entertainment · Gaming · 40 mins ago
Walmart cancels Zelda-themed Switch 2 pre-orders before launch
Walmart canceled some pre-orders for a Zelda-themed Switch 2 the day before the console’s October 29 release.
The affected buyers had ordered the limited-edition console online, and Walmart told them it was out of stock.
The console is tied to the Legend of Zelda series and marks its 40th anniversary.
Some buyers say customer service told them Walmart had accepted more orders than it could fill, while the company has not offered a clear fix in the messages described.
Some Walmart stores may still have consoles on release day, with one online post claiming stores expect 10 to 13 units each.
Online orders and store inventory are separate, so those units do not guarantee that canceled buyers can get one.
The cancellations echo problems with Walmart’s handling of Switch 2 pre-orders in 2025, when the retailer blamed a system error.
Buyers affected by the latest cancellations may need to look elsewhere before the Ocarina of Time remake launches on November 5.
Walmart canceled some pre-orders for a Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2 console one day before its October 29 release.
Affected buyers received messages saying the console was out of stock, and some said Walmart offered no resolution.
Walmart stores may still have launch-day units, with one Reddit user claiming stores expected 10 to 13 systems each.
Walmart has faced criticism over canceled pre-orders before, including during the 2025 launch of Nintendo’s current-generation handheld.
- Who
- Walmart canceled pre-orders placed by customers for a Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2 console.
- What
- Buyers received cancellation notices saying the item was out of stock.
- When
- The cancellations were reported on October 28, 2026, one day before the console’s October 29 release.
- Where
- Walmart’s online store; the reports appeared in Reddit posts and were covered by Notebookcheck and Kotaku.
- Why
- Walmart cited the item being out of stock. Customers and reports attributed the cancellations to oversold pre-orders.
Walmart
Affected buyers
Reason for cancellations
Walmart
Walmart’s notice said the item was out of stock.
Affected buyers
Some customers said Walmart had oversold pre-orders and canceled their orders despite their reservations.
Walmart canceled some pre-orders for Nintendo’s current-generation handheld, according to Notebookcheck.
Another wave of cancellations hit ahead of the handheld’s launch.
Buyers reported receiving Walmart cancellation notices for the Zelda-themed Switch 2 console.
The console was scheduled for release.
- Console
- Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Switch 2
- Release date
- October 29, 2026
- Reported store stock
- 10–13 systems per store, according to a Reddit user cited by Notebookcheck
- Remake launch
- Ocarina of Time remake scheduled for November 5
- Prior cancellation episode
- Nintendo handheld pre-orders canceled around its June 5, 2025 launch
4 sources
Somehow, The Legend Of Zelda Switch 2 Walmart Fumbled Pre-Order Saga Has Gotten Messier
Gallery: Here's A Closer Look At The Zelda 40th Anniversary Special Edition Switch 2
Walmart cancels Zelda Switch 2 console pre-orders despite having launch units in stock
What people are saying
This is unethical sales practice