Hardly available for pre-order, already sold out: The Nintendo Switch 2 in the golden Zelda 40th anniversary special edition of the series was, according to Eurogamer, snatched up within hours. Now, dozens of listings are appearing on eBay, offering the special model for the equivalent of more than 800 Euros – at a significantly lower retail price.
The console features a gold-adorned casing, matching Triforce-designed Joy-Con controllers, and a unique dock design. It's precisely this aesthetic that makes it equally appealing to collectors and scalpers – a fact that resourceful resellers apparently anticipated from the start.
Why Did the Zelda Special Edition Sell Out So Quickly?
Nintendo had limited the production quantity of the special edition from the outset, as is customary for the company's themed special editions. Combined with the high demand surrounding the 40th anniversary of Zelda and the already strong demand for the Switch 2, this resulted in regular pre-orders being fully booked at most retailers within a few hours. According to community reports, bot programs that automatically fill shopping carts likely snatched up a significant portion of the stock before human buyers even had a chance.
How Does This Compare to Previous Switch 2 Scalping Incidents?
Scalping is not a new issue for limited Switch 2 models: Even at the console's regular launch and with other special editions, units were found on resale platforms with high markups shortly after release. What's new in this case, however, is the extent of the markup: At more than double the retail price, the Zelda edition is at the upper end of what has recently been observed for Nintendo special editions. For fans who actually want to play themselves and not resell, this means: If you didn't get one in the first drop, you either have to dig deep into your pockets or hope for a possible re-production, which Nintendo has not yet commented on.
Those still hoping for a regular unit should keep an eye on official stock levels at major retailers – small contingents occasionally reappear during restocks. We advise against purchasing at significantly inflated scalper prices, if only because it further fuels this business model.
You can read more about the background of the special edition in our report on the Zelda Direct for the 40th anniversary, where the console was first introduced. Prior to that, initial rumors about the leak of the special edition had circulated, which have now been confirmed.
Source: Eurogamer
Did you manage to snag a Zelda special edition, or did you miss out? Tell us in the comments!
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