Zelda gamers secure over $500 in free credit ahead of Ocarina of Time launch

Certain The Legend of Zelda gamers have reportedly received over $500 in compensation after Walmart cancelled pre-orders for the limited-edition 40th anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda console. However, not every customer is seemingly eligible for the gift.

Many gamers received their gorgeous Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Nintendo Switch 2 consoles late last week, with a second batch of pre-orders arriving this week, just in time for the highly anticipated Ocarina of Time remake.

The console was in huge demand from the get-go, with scalpers quickly snapping up stock and listing it on resale websites for over $1,200. Nintendo later restocked pre-orders at various retailers, but the console remained incredibly hard to come by. As a result, not every order was fulfilled, leaving many Zelda fans disappointed.

Who qualifies for the Walmart compensation?

Again, the retailer in question is Walmart in the US, as reported by Polygon following a post from the X account Austin John Plays.

“So it looks like following the fumble of Walmart cancelling Zelda Switch 2 preorders, they’re just giving me a $519 gift card?” the post reads.

“They didn’t charge for the original system. This is a real email from a real address. It’s arriving in 10 days. If true, this is a huge saving face for good press.”

Walmart is reportedly offering the compensation after overselling its pre-order allocation for the limited-edition Nintendo Switch 2 console, resulting in some orders being cancelled just one day before its October 29, 2026 release.

Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Nintendo Switch 2

Some affected customers are being offered a $519.99 Walmart eGift Card. Unlike retailers that take payment when a pre-order is placed, Walmart generally charges customers when an item ships. This makes the reported offer particularly interesting, as some customers may not have actually paid for their cancelled console despite getting compensation.

READ MORE: All confirmed details for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake

According to the reported email, the $519.99 Walmart gift card will be sent within 10 business days. However, it's worth noting that this offer is limited to customers whose pre-orders for the particular Zelda console were cancelled by Walmart. It is not a general offer for anyone who changes their mind.

Some customers have reportedly said they haven't been offered the Walmart gift card but have instead received an exclusive reservation to purchase the console before additional stock becomes generally available. These customers are reportedly being given 48 hours from receiving the offer to purchase the Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Nintendo Switch 2 console.

Recently, Nintendo has come under fire from The Legend of Zelda fans following reports that the highly anticipated Ocarina of Time remake is using five-year-old technology on the new Nintendo Switch 2 console.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake releases exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026.