Quick answer: The Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition releases on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at $519.99 on Nintendo's US store, $20 more than a standard Switch 2 ($499.99). It does not include Ocarina of Time. As of October 21, Nintendo's own store lists the console, the $99.99 anniversary Pro Controller and the $39.99 carrying case as unavailable to buy, with the console and controller flagged out of stock. Nintendo says a restock is planned but has not given a date or quantities. The next confirmed in-store chance in the US is Best Buy's midnight launch for Ocarina of Time on November 5, which will have a limited number of consoles and Pro Controllers.
The themed console sold out almost as soon as preorders opened in September, and Nintendo itself now admits it misjudged demand. This page tracks what is officially confirmed: price, release date, what is in the box, what Nintendo has said about a restock and where stock is actually expected next. Every price and date below was checked against Nintendo's US store, Nintendo's announcement and Best Buy's own press release on October 21, 2026. We update this page in place when the stock situation changes.
When does the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 come out?
The console launches on October 29, 2026, one week before the game it was built around. Nintendo announced it in its Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary news post: "A week earlier, on 29 October, fans can get their hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition console, plus anniversary editions of the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and Nintendo Switch 2 carrying case with screen protector, all featuring a Triforce design," according to Nintendo's official announcement.
The US Nintendo store listing carries the same October 29 release date. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time follows on November 5. If you preordered the console, it arrives first and the game a week later.
How much does the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 cost?
Here is the full anniversary lineup as listed on Nintendo's US store on October 21, 2026, next to the standard versions so you can see the premium you pay for the Zelda design:
| Item | Nintendo US store price | Standard version | Release | Nintendo Store status (Oct 21) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition | $519.99 | $499.99 (Nintendo Switch 2 system) | Oct 29, 2026 | Out of stock |
| Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition | $99.99 | $89.99 | Oct 29, 2026 | Out of stock |
| Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition | $39.99 | n/a | Oct 29, 2026 | Not purchasable |
| The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (game, sold separately) | $59.99 digital / $69.99 physical | n/a | Nov 5, 2026 | Digital preorder open |
Three numbers matter here:
- $20. That is the whole premium for the Zelda console over a plain Switch 2 at Nintendo's list price.
- $579.98. Console plus the digital game, before tax. With the physical game it is $589.98.
- 2. Nintendo's US store limits the anniversary console, Pro Controller and case to two per cart, which tells you it expects heavy demand when stock goes live.
For comparison, Nintendo's own Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle lists at $549.99 and includes a game. The Zelda edition costs $30 less than that bundle but comes with no game at all.
UK and EU prices are set per store and per retailer. Check Nintendo's local store before you pay a reseller, because the list price is the number to compare against.
What comes in the box?
The Zelda edition is a standard Nintendo Switch 2 with a themed shell, controllers and dock. It plays exactly the same games. According to Nintendo's product page, the bundle includes:
- Nintendo Switch 2 system
- Joy-Con 2 (L) and Joy-Con 2 (R) in green and gold
- Nintendo Switch 2 AC adapter and USB-C charging cable
- Nintendo Switch 2 dock (black and gold with the Triforce symbol)
- Joy-Con 2 grip and two Joy-Con 2 straps
- Ultra High Speed HDMI cable
Nintendo describes the dock as "black and gold" with "decorations inspired by the Legend of Zelda game series... along with the golden symbol of the Triforce," and says "patterns and symbols inspired by the Legend of Zelda series decorate the back of the system and dock." Under the paint it is the same hardware: a 7.9-inch 1080p screen, up to 4K output on a compatible TV through the dock, and 256 GB of internal storage expandable with microSD Express cards.
The listing states it in brackets: "(Game not included.)" That line causes most of the confusion around this console. If you want to play Ocarina of Time on day one, budget for the game separately. Our Ocarina of Time Switch 2 preorder guide covers the game's price, file size and pre-load date.
Is the Zelda Switch 2 sold out?
Yes, at Nintendo. On October 21, 2026, Nintendo's US store lists the console, the anniversary Pro Controller and the anniversary carrying case as "Coming soon," and the console and Pro Controller are flagged out of stock in the store's product data. None of the three can be added to a cart right now.
The console sold out in many regions within hours of preorders opening in September. Resale listings well above list price followed, which Eurogamer reported in the UK within days. There has been no large-scale restock since.
Will the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 be restocked?
Nintendo says yes, but it has not given a date. The clearest statement so far came from Bill van Zyll, Nintendo's VP and general manager for Latin America, in an interview with Brazilian YouTuber Coelho, transcribed by Nintendo Everything on October 17:
"We underestimated how well it would be received. And there's certainly some markets that stand out. The United States did extremely well as well. It's a global phenomenon where they're running out of product. The pre-sales are hitting their max, and certainly that's what happened to us in Brazil. We are working on replenishments of the special hardware and the software, but it'll take a little bit of time."
Asked directly whether the anniversary console itself would come back, he said: "Yes. I can't tell you dates right now. We're working on it. I can't tell you quantities right now. Again, all being worked on, but that is the plan that we have right now – the special controller, the hardware, the software."
What that confirms:
- A restock of the console, the special controller and the game is planned.
- There is no date and no quantity yet.
- The statement covers more than one market. van Zyll named the United States and Brazil specifically.
What it does not confirm: a restock before October 29, a restock in every country, or a preorder window. Treat any "restock date" you see on social media as a rumour until Nintendo or a named retailer posts it.
Where can I buy the Zelda Switch 2 at launch?
The only confirmed US in-store opportunity so far is Best Buy's late-night opening for Ocarina of Time. Per Best Buy's corporate announcement, "nearly all Best Buy stores will open at midnight ET on Nov. 5," and "Best Buy stores will also have a limited number of The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 System, copies of the game and The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 Pro Controller available for purchase."
Midnight ET is not midnight everywhere. Best Buy lists the local opening times on the evening of Wednesday, November 4:
| US time zone | Best Buy opens |
|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 12:00 AM, Thu Nov 5 |
| Central (CT) | 11:00 PM, Wed Nov 4 |
| Mountain (MT) | 10:00 PM, Wed Nov 4 |
| Pacific (PT) | 9:00 PM, Wed Nov 4 |
Best Buy has not said how many consoles each store gets, so arrive early and phone your local store first. Use Best Buy's late-night opening store locator to find a participating location. Best Buy also says My Best Buy Plus and Total members earn 10% back when preordering Ocarina of Time.
How to catch the next Zelda Switch 2 restock
There is no official restock alert from Nintendo yet, so the practical plan is to watch the places that actually sell at list price:
- Nintendo's own store. Bookmark the US product page. It shows "Coming soon" today. When stock goes live, the cart limit is two per order.
- The Best Buy midnight launch on November 5. It is the one confirmed in-store drop, with limited consoles and Pro Controllers.
- Major retailers' product pages. Best Buy, GameStop and Walmart all list the anniversary hardware, and retailer restocks can go live without warning.
- Ignore resale prices. Nintendo's list price is $519.99. Anything far above that is a reseller margin on a console Nintendo has said it is restocking.
If you do not need the themed shell, the standard Switch 2 at $499.99 plays Ocarina of Time identically. The Zelda edition is a collector's purchase, not a performance upgrade.
FAQ
When does the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 release? October 29, 2026, a week before The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches on November 5. The anniversary Pro Controller and carrying case release the same day.
How much is the Zelda Switch 2? $519.99 on Nintendo's US store, $20 more than the standard $499.99 Switch 2. The anniversary Pro Controller is $99.99 and the carrying case with screen protector is $39.99.
Does the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 come with Ocarina of Time? No. Nintendo's listing says "(Game not included.)" The game is $59.99 digital or $69.99 physical on Nintendo's US store.
Will the Zelda Switch 2 be restocked? Nintendo says yes. Its Latin America VP Bill van Zyll said a restock of the console, controller and game is planned, but "I can't tell you dates right now" and "I can't tell you quantities right now."
Where can I buy the Zelda Switch 2 on launch day? In the US, Best Buy says nearly all its stores open at midnight ET on November 5 for Ocarina of Time with a limited number of anniversary consoles and Pro Controllers. Nintendo's own store is out of stock as of October 21.
Is the Zelda Switch 2 different from a normal Switch 2? Only in looks. It has the same 7.9-inch 1080p screen, 4K docked output and 256 GB of storage, and it plays the same games. The differences are the Triforce dock, the patterned back and the green and gold Joy-Con 2.
Last checked: October 21, 2026, 07:40 UTC, against Nintendo's US store, Nintendo's 40th Anniversary announcement and Best Buy's press release.
