Nintendo admits it underestimated demand for the Zelda Switch 2 and promises restocks
Bill van Zyll, Nintendo's head of Latin America, apologized for the shortage of the series' 40th anniversary console and said pre-orders maxed out everywhere, with the US standing out.
Foto: Crisco 1492 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); mostra o Switch 2 padrão, não a edição de Zelda
Nintendo misjudged how many people wanted its The Legend of Zelda edition of the Switch 2. The admission comes from Bill van Zyll, vice president and general manager of Nintendo Latin America, in an interview with Brazilian YouTube channel Coelho no Japão, recorded at Brasil Game Show 2026 and posted on October 11. The comments went global on Monday, October 19, when Nintendo Life and Nintendo Wire picked up the video.
Van Zyll called the shortage "a global phenomenon": "We have this issue absolutely everywhere. We apologize for that. That certainly is not the intent." He said Nintendo "underestimated how well it would be received", that some markets stood out, with the United States doing "extremely well", and that pre-sales were hitting their max, as happened in Brazil.
Are restocks coming?
Yes, but with no date or quantity. Van Zyll said Nintendo is working on replenishing the special hardware and software, and that it will "take a little bit of time". His closing message was a familiar one: "Please be patient." He also said the response caught the company by surprise: "We expected a positive response, but the magnitude… It's amazing."
What the Zelda Switch 2 is
Announced on September 8 for the series' 40th anniversary, the console launches on October 29. The Joy-Con 2 are metallic green and gold, with a sprite of Link holding the Triforce, and the dock is black and gold with a large Triforce on the front. Inside, it's the same Switch 2. Note that the Ocarina of Time remake is not in the box: the game is sold separately and launches November 5. A matching Pro Controller and carrying case arrive the same day, while supplies last.
- United States: $519.99.
- Spain: €519.99 for the console, €109.99 for the Pro Controller with display stand and €34.99 for the case, according to Vandal.
- Brazil: retail pre-orders opened September 18 at a full price of R$4,749, according to Game Over Drive.
What it means if you missed out
The console sold out within hours when pre-orders opened and quickly turned up on resale sites at inflated prices. Van Zyll's comments are the first official confirmation that the edition won't disappear after the first batch, which undercuts the case for paying a scalper's markup. If you missed it, keep an eye on Nintendo's own store and authorized retailers, and be wary of listings far above the official price.
