The Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are open but stock is scarce

The Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders flew off the shelves when they launched in the US yesterday. The special edition encases Ninty's latest handheld in gold and green with the brand's first alternative Joy-Con design and a gorgeous dock covered in those lovely triangles. The $519.99 device ($20 more than the new $499 MSRP of the standard Switch 2) doesn't come with a copy of Ocarina of Time Remake included, though pre-orders on the game itself are going equally wild right now.

TL;DR Check stock here:

Switch 2: Check Walmart

Pro Controller: Check Best Buy

Carry case: $39.99 at Target

Ocarina of Time: $69.99 at Amazon

We've also got a whole host of accessories to contend with, and the Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is proving just as difficult to get your hands on right now. Keep your eyes peeled across the web, though, as Nintendo hasn't yet specified whether this is a "limited" edition or a "special" edition. If the latter, we could well see more stock runs hitting the shelves. If that's the case, 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.

The Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the US

Walmart | Check stock

Walmart was the first US retailer to open original handheld pre-orders when the Switch 2 launched last year. It's followed form and launched its Zelda Switch 2 pre-orders pretty early out the gate. While they're out of stock at the moment, notifications are available.View Deal

Best Buy | Check stock

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.

Pro Controller: Check stock

Carry Case: Check stock

Ocarina of Time: $69.99View Deal

Amazon| Check stock

Amazon is always a little behind in its Nintendo pre-orders, supposedly due to a dispute between the retailer and brand over street dates last year (that's just the rumor on the playground though). There aren't any listing pages for the Legend of Zelda Switch 2 or the Pro Controller here, but you'll find Ocarina of Time Remake live on the shelves.

Ocarina of Time: $69.99View Deal

Target | Check stock

Target states that its Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are now sold out, but is urging customers to check back on the console's release date. We could see a resurgence here in October then, but there's no notification system in play.

Carry case: In stock - $39.99

Pro Controller: Check stock

Ocarina of Time: $69.99View Deal

Nintendo | Check stock

Nintendo itself is also sold out of Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders, but has a 'check back soon' message that could spell hope for future stock drops.

Pro Controller: Check stock

Carry case: Check stock

Ocarina of Time: $69.99View Deal

Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the UK

Nintendo | Check stock

There's something going down at Nintendo right now, with a queue system currently in place. That's pretty normal for a high-priority pre-order situation like this, so it's worth jumping in and seeing what all the fuss is about. View Deal

Smyths Toys | Check stock

Smyths Toys is straight out the gate with Ocarina of Time, but its listing page for the handheld itself is out of commission. Still, we've got a URL here and that's more than can be said for other retailers.

Ocarina of Time: £54.99View Deal

Very | Check stock

We're still waiting for the majority of retailers to drop Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the UK, but Very is usually pretty hot off the press. View Deal

Amazon | Check stock

Amazon UK often isn't as stringent with its Switch 2 pre-orders, but it's radio silence right now. With no listing pages for the Switch 2 or its accessories, or even Ocarina of Time this one's a waiting game.View Deal

Argos | Check stock

Argos is also yet to list the Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 handheld on its site but this is certainly one to watch. The site sorts its inventory by region, so you're only competing against the postcodes around you. View Deal

How to plan for your Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order

Preparation is key whenever you know you'll be fighting against resellers for a pre-order.

Retailers know about this battle as well, which is why many put a few extra steps in place before allowing you to check out. The first thing you can do now is make sure you can jump through those particular hoops as quickly as possible when Nintendo Switch 2 Legend of Zelda pre-orders land.

Best Buy is the biggest example of this, but Nintendo will also likely require you to have an account to place your pre-order. It doesn't need to be a paid account or subscription, but it's safe to assume at least these two stores will require some credentials before selling you your special edition.

2. Save your details

There's another reason to keep an account with all the retailers you're planning to attempt a pre-order with. Signing in means you can keep all your payment and shipping information saved and ready to go when the race to checkout is on.

Many stock hunters complain that high-profile consoles are sometimes snatched right out of their cart during the checkout process. That's because your special edition Nintendo Switch 2 isn't actually yours until all that payment information is cleared - if someone is ahead of you and you're last in line your pre-order will still go to them.

Keeping your delivery and payment details saved and ready to go can save you precious click time.

3. Don't forget mobile

Best Buy and Walmart have both struggled under high demand during major pre-order windows in recent years. Sites crash, slow down, bug out, or simply won't load at all. It's a common occurrence, but we've found that mobile versions of those sites can often get you in while others are smashing that refresh button.

How much does the Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

The Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 costs $519.99 in the US and £429.99 in the UK.

Will more Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders be available?

The likelihood of seeing more Zelda Switch 2 stock before release day depends on whether this is a special edition or a limited edition. Nintendo itself hasn't revealed its availability plans so far, but going off track record I'd optimistically assume the former. That means there could be additional manufacturing runs on the handheld, in which case we'd at least see more stock arriving around that October 29 release date.

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.

Nintendo also dropped news of Hasbro's new electronic Master Sword and the new Lego Link and Epona set in its Direct, but you can also check out all the best Legend of Zelda merch we've found so far.