Nintendo’s first year of Switch 2 hardware has passed without a single special-edition console, making the newly announced The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition a notable release. It is due on October 29, but resellers are already asking close to twice its retail price.
The package gives the standard console a distinctive black-and-gold treatment. Its dock uses a matching colour scheme, while the rear of the console features black-and-gold triangle patterns. Two green-and-gold Joy-Con controllers complete the main design.
Nintendo is also including a case with a gold Triforce emblem and a special-edition Pro Controller decorated in black, gold and green. The dock’s gold-heavy appearance may remind some readers of the Trump White House, but the complete set should be highly appealing to dedicated Zelda fans and anyone planning to buy a Switch 2 later this year.
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Retail stock disappeared quickly
Best Buy, Walmart and Target each listed pre-orders at US$520. That is US$20 more than the recently increased price of a standard Switch 2, and all three retailers sold out immediately.
Resale listings have appeared before the console’s launch, with asking prices ranging from US$700 to US$985. GamesRadar observes that some sellers are listing the product on eBay at those inflated prices.
No game included
Some resale offers reportedly pair the special-edition console with the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake. That combination makes more sense than the official package, because Nintendo is not bundling the game with the hardware.
The timing is also unusual. The 40th Anniversary Edition launches on October 29, one week before the updated classic arrives on November 6. Buyers therefore receive the themed console first, with no included game to immediately showcase it.
Paying hundreds of dollars above retail would not improve the console’s performance. The hardware operates like any other Switch 2, with the premium covering its artwork, colours and bundled accessories rather than extra processing power or features.
More stock may still be possible
Nintendo has not yet made the special edition available for pre-order through its own websites. The combination of limited visible stock and immediate sell-outs at major retailers has allowed demand to exceed supply months before release.
There is at least some reason to wait. Nintendo took additional steps to help customers purchase the original Switch 2 through its websites when that console launched in 2025, so a similar arrangement could still be planned for this edition. Australian shoppers should watch official Nintendo channels and local retailers rather than treating early resale prices as the console’s true value.
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