Walmart customers who pre-ordered the limited-edition Nintendo Switch 2: The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition are receiving unexpected compensation emails promising $519.99 eGift Cards after their orders were cancelled just a day before the hardware’s release.
Walmart Cancels Pre-Orders Before October Launch
A day before the Triforce-adorned consoles were scheduled to arrive at doorsteps, buyers who secured pre-orders through Walmart received notices stating their delivery orders were out of stock. Affected customers reported that the retailer oversold its pre-order allocation.
While the custom hardware retailed for $519.99, listings on Walmart’s website briefly showed the console priced around $700 through third-party platform sellers. Frustrated shoppers took to social media to criticize the practice. One buyer stated on Reddit that this is unethical sales practice,
adding, They shouldn’t allow pre-orders beyond what they can stock. This denied their competitors a sale and denied an excited customer a chance at limited edition merch. I’ll try again elsewhere but think consumers should be aware.
Another customer shared that customer service representatives indicated there literally isn’t [a console] in stock to send me and I just was one of the unlucky patrons who got fucked,
as Kotaku reported. Internal notices suggested shipment problems would keep the system out of certain stores past the October 29 launch, maintaining a point-of-sale block through at least Friday, Nov. 6.
Walmart Compensates Shoppers With eGift Cards and Reservations
Following the backlash, some customers who had their orders dropped are receiving messages acknowledging the mistake and offering financial remediation.
So it looks like following the fumble of Walmart cancelling Zelda Switch 2 preorders, they’re just giving me a $519 gift card? 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… pic.twitter.com/IHCZxWu77g
Because Walmart generally charges when an item ships rather than when the order is initially placed, many customers were never charged for the cancelled hardware or received a full refund, making the eGift card offer effectively a payout that essentially grants what sounds like a free Switch 2
. In addition to the gift card compensation, some buyers found an Exclusive Reservation
loaded into their shopping carts, giving them a 48-hour window to purchase the system before additional inventory became generally accessible. While some shoppers received both remedies, others reported receiving one or the other
.
Resale Markets and Retail Restocks Surround Ocarina of Time Remake
The hardware launch coincides with high demand driven by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Nintendo Switch 2, arriving on November 5, 2026. The title rebuilds the classic 1998 game with modernized controls, orchestral soundtracks, reworked dungeon puzzles, and expanded Hyrule environments. On secondary marketplaces like eBay, the standalone $519.99 console has commanded resale prices around $700, netting sellers approximately $585 after platform fees and shipping. Bundles paired with the matching $99.99 Pro Controller have reached up to $900 on the aftermarket.
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Retailers including Amazon, Target, and Best Buy have managed intermittent inventory waves and midnight store openings. Target prepared in-store allocations for November 5 alongside online ordering options for November 6, while Walmart aimed for online sales on November 6.
Questions Arise Regarding Walmart Compensation Program
- Is Walmart officially confirming the $519.99 gift card program? Reports rely entirely on customer emails and deal tracker confirmations, as the retailer has not published a formal public statement detailing the scope or eligibility rules of the compensation.
- Do customers receive both the eGift card and the cart reservation? Customer accounts suggest that most individuals receive one remedy, while a smaller group reports securing both the reservation link and the gift card offer.
- What steps should buyers take if they received neither offer? Shoppers are advised to verify that their order cancellation and payment refund were processed successfully, then contact Walmart support directly with their original order number.
Earlier coverage: Walmart Lists Mystery "Surprise and Delight Bag" for GTA 6 Physical Pre-Orders
